Natalie Collins produced a moment of magic in her debut to help the Philippine women's national football team salvage a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan in their first match of the 2026 Asian Games, Monday at the Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium in Japan.
The 19-year-old Collins pounced on a defensive miscue by Uzbekistan in the 89th minute to slot the ball past goal-keeper Maftuna Jonimqulova and equalize.
Uzbekistan had taken the lead in the 81st, with Mehribon Egamberdieva finally beating Olivia McDaniel after the Filipina 'keeper had weathered wave after wave of attempts earlier in the match.
The result meant one point each for the Philippines and Uzbekistan after their first group game in Gifu, Japan.
The top two teams in each of the three groups, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage of the competition.
Uzbekistan enjoyed 61% of the possession and had 18 shots on goal, eight of which were on target.
McDaniel and the Filipinas' defense were up to the task until the 81st, when Umida Zoirova found Egamberdieva for the breakthrough.
But there was no quit in the Philippines, and Collins made Uzbekistan pay for a lapse when she dispossessed a defender and slotted past Jonimqulova in the closing minutes.
The Filipinas will return to action on September 17, Thursday, against Hong Kong.