MIDFIELDER Anicka Castañeda scored two goals and dished a handful of assists as the Philippine Women’s National Football Team also known as the Philippine Malditas rolled over host Tajikistan, 8-0 Friday night in Group A of the ongoing AFC Women’s FIFA Qualifiers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
For her feat, Castañeda was named as the player of the match. She found the back of the net in the 34th and 85th minutes.
The big win over the host team was the Malditas third straight victory in Group A. The unbeaten Filipinas have nine points, the same output of leader
Jordan which has a bigger goal difference against the Malditas.
Hali Long scored a hat trick to emerge as the Malditas’ highest scoring player. She netted the ball in the 38th, 59th and 84th minutes while teammates Eva Madarang, Mary Cristine Duran and Sara Isobel Arrieta Castañeda each contributed one goal for the Malditas.
The win pushed the Malditas closer to a berth in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Finals in Jordan next year.
On Monday, the Malditas will play Bahrain on Monday and conclude their campaign against Jordan on Wednesday.