THE Stallion Laguna FC Women enjoyed a victorious debut, making history for the Philippines as they marked their inaugural appearance in the AFC Women’s Champions League.
This continental breakthrough marks a major achievement for Stallion Laguna’s women’s team, which has steadily grown and shown dedication to excellence in local tournaments. With this momentum, the club now looks to assert itself on the broader Asian stage.
True to form, Chandler McDaniel delivered a stellar performance, powering Stallion Laguna to a commanding 6-1 win over Mongolia’s Khovd Western in the preliminary round held Monday at Thuwunna Stadium in Myanmar.
Dominant Display
The 27-year-old Filipino-American striker opened the floodgates with a sensational free kick in the 7th minute, then quickly followed up with a composed penalty in the 10th minute after Mia Bookhard was fouled inside the box.
McDaniel sealed her hat trick in the 89th minute, calmly finishing after taking advantage of a defensive lapse from Khovd Western.
Bookhard made her mark as well, netting two goals—first with a dazzling solo effort in the 21st minute, then with a simple close-range finish during first-half stoppage time.
Isabella Villaflor contributed to the scoring frenzy with a forceful header in the 58th minute, rounding off a dominant outing for the Filipino squad.
The lone bright spot for Khovd Western came in the 78th minute, when Lee Nari found the back of the net with a well-taken shot past Olivia McDaniel.
Looking Ahead
With only the group winner advancing to the group stage in November 2025, Chandler McDaniel emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and building on this strong start.
“I’m really proud of Stallion tonight,” Chandler McDaniel said. “We came out strong and showed that we’re here to compete. Of course, there’s always room to improve.”
“We’re looking forward to building on this game, showing up for the next two matches, proving our worth, and securing two more wins to advance from the group stage,” she went on to say.
Following the first day of action, Stallion Laguna holds second place in Group A with three points and a +45 goal difference, just behind group leaders ISPE, who earlier cruised to a 9-0 win over the Bank of Guam Strykers.
Stallion Laguna will look to carry their momentum into their next match against Guam’s Strykers FC on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. (Manila Time). They will then wrap up the group stage with a crucial clash against tournament hosts ISPE WFC on August 31.
