The Philippine women’s national football team repeated their 2017 performance against Tajikistan, annihilating the host country, 8-0, in the first round of the 2024 Olympic women’s football tournament qualifying tournament Group E Saturday evening at Hisor.

The returning Chandler McDaniel scored a brace in the second half while six of her compatriots added one each in the first half.

Left back Sofia Harrison started the scoring rampage in the 26th minute with a rare attacking goal off a Carleigh Frilles heel pass for her third international goal.

A minute later, team captain Tahnai Annis volleyed a loose ball from the central box off an Alicia Barker long ball to add to her international goal tally of 14.

In the 31st minute, midfielder Merryl Serrano caught a long ball from Annis and headed an assist to an open Frilles in front of the six-yard box for the 20-year-old’s 12th international goal, tying Eva Madarang and Joana Houplin for fifth overall.

In the 35th minute, Red Star Belgrade’s Quinley Quezada padded her scoring tally with an easy header in front of goal off an Annis right lob as the Filipinas’ all-time leading scorer goaled her 21st in international play.

Three minutes later, it was Serrano’s turn to score from a header off a lob from Sara Eggesvik from top right of the box for her third international goal.

Center back Maya Alcantara finally had her maiden international goal with a tap in off a Quezada right cross from a left corner set piece in the first half injury time.

It was McDaniel’s turn to boost her international career after rehabilitating an ACL injury for the past 14 months.

The free agent forward scored off a counterattacking right cross from Frilles in the 60th minute, then a volley off a Jaclyn Sawicki long ball in the 89th minute for her fifth international goal.

The only chance by Tajikistan was a strike from center box in the 61st minute by Komila Rasulova that was handily blocked by Alcantara.

The win replicated the then Malditas’ 8-0 thrashing of Tajikistan, also in Hisor, six years ago in the 2018 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In the first game, Hong Kong scathed Pakistan, 2-0.

The bitter rivals, both having six points in the group, will battle for the eleventh time on Tuesday for the lone spot in their group to the second round of the Olympic qualifiers.

The Filipinas need at least a draw to advance, given a superior goal differential over Hong Kong.

The world number 79 Hong Kong has a winning record against the world number 49 Filipinas with five win, three losses, and two draws.

However, it was the Filipinas, then coached by Marlon Maro, who won their last match against Hong Kong, 2-1, in the 2022 Asian Cup qualifiers in Uzbekistan in 2021.

McDaniel scored the late winning goal in the 87th minute of that game.

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