GIFU, Japan — The Philippines salvaged a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan on Monday after Nathalie Collins scored a late equalizer, giving the World Cup-bound Filipinas a point in their opening match of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games women’s football tournament.
Collins scored in the 89th minute after an Uzbek defensive error at Nagaragawa Stadium, preventing the Philippines from opening its Group G campaign with a loss.
Uzbekistan took the lead in the 80th minute when Mehribon Egamberdieva beat Filipinas goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, who had kept the match scoreless until then.
The draw left both teams with one point after the opening round of Group G matches.
The Filipinas will face Hong Kong on Thursday before meeting China on Monday. The Philippines needs to finish among the group’s top two teams or rank among the two best third-place finishers to reach the knockout stage.
Meanwhile, the Philippines will return to the men’s football competition Tuesday when its U-23 team faces Uzbekistan in Nagoya.
The match marks the country’s return to men’s football at the Asian Games after 52 years. The Philippines last competed in the event in 1974 in Tehran, Iran.
The U-23 team will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Manila time and will compete in Group C with Vietnam and Kuwait. The top two teams will advance to the knockout stage.
Sandro Reyes will lead the Philippine squad in his final youth-level competition. The midfielder has also played regularly for the senior national team.
Christian Rontini, Scott Woods and Michael Baldisimo also join the U-23 squad.