Philippines triumph: Reyes shines in Asian qualification!

Philippines triumph: Reyes shines in Asian qualification!

Philippine football is currently experiencing an exciting time! Sandro Reyes and the senior national team started qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup with a real bang. How fcguetersloh.de Reportedly, the Filipinos were able to record two wins against East Timor. In the away game in Darwin, Australia, they showed their strength with a 4-1 win and Reyes was in top form - he played 90 minutes and assisted two goals.

The performance of Bjørn Kristensen, who scored all four goals in the said game, was another highlight. The second leg at the New Clark City Stadium at home was initially rather bumpy. After trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Philippines turned the tide and won the game 3-1, with Reyes playing 77 minutes this time.

The group's table

Currently, the Philippines have taken pole position in their qualifying group with a score of ten points, which puts them at the top due to a better goal difference compared to Tajikistan. But the situation is not that relaxed, as only the group winners qualify for the Asian Championships, which will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027. Wikipedia explains that the qualification is organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the entire period of these exciting competitions runs from October 12, 2023 to March 31, 2026.

A total of 46 teams are taking part in the qualification and so far 169 games have been played, with 489 goals scored (an average of 2.89 goals per game). A real blast is the top goalscorer Bjørn Martin Kristensen, who leads the list with an incredible eight goals. It remains to be seen whether the Philippines can consolidate its position with its next game against the Maldives on November 18. The team now has to maintain its good form and secure its dream of taking part in the Asian Championships.

An exciting format

The qualification is divided into four rounds. In the first round, 20 teams compete against each other in home and away games, with the top ten advancing to the second round. In the second round, 36 teams will compete in nine groups of four teams for places in the Asian Cup. Finally, in the third round, 24 teams come together and compete in groups of four. The group winners then finally qualify for the Asian Cup.

The draw for the first two rounds took place on July 27, 2023. To keep track, you can keep an eye on the important game dates:

Finally, it should be mentioned that Saudi Arabia automatically qualifies as hosts. The clock is ticking and fans hope that the Philippines can achieve their dream of reaching the Asian Cup!