Two women’s teams remain unbeaten after an action-packed second day at the IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships in Kuala Lumpar, and the playoff picture in the quest for the continental title is taking shape.
Two weather delays forced the postponement of a pair of women’s quarter final games, one of which will resume on Sunday morning at 7am local time. New Zealand currently lead Thailand 34-6 and will settle that game, but the Philippines have conceded while trailing Australia 36-0.
Each of the group winners remain unbeaten with 4-0 Japan topping Group A, while 3-0 Malaysia headed Group B. Those two teams earned a bye to Sunday’s semifinals.
Japan completed a perfect group stage with a 33-point shutout of closest challenger Australia and now awaits either New Zealand (2-1) or Thailand (2-2) from Group B in the semifinals. New Zealand won twice on Saturday, scoring 84 total points while conceding only six and scored on two interceptions by Sia Matai and Rosa Matauita against India. Thailand’s two losses came to powerhouses Japan and Australia and they won twice on Saturday to advance to the knockout stages.
In the other semifinal, 3-0 Malaysia, who put 41 unanswered points past the Philippines to top their group, will face Australia (3-1). The Aussies put on an offensive masterclass in a 53-6 rout of Korea as quarterback Casey Cubis threw five touchdown passes. Dani de Groot reeled in three of those, including a catch in her own half that she took to the end zone, evading four tacklers to score.
Sunday’s Women’s Playoff Schedule 7am Quarterfinals: New Zealand vs Thailand resumes (currently 34-6) 9.15am Semifinal: Japan vs New Zealand or Thailand 9.15am Semifinal: Malaysia vs Australia 11.45am Championship Game
Group A Results, Day 2: AUS 53 KOR 6, INA 22 THA 27, KOR 0 THA 39, AUS 0 JPN 33
Group A Final Standings Japan 4-0 Australia 3-1 Thailand 2-2 Indonesia 1-3 Korea 0-4
Group B Results, Day 2: NZL 32 PHI 0, IND 6 vs NZL 52, MAS 41 PHI 0
Group B Final Standings Malaysia 3-0 New Zealand 2-1 Philippines 1-2 India 0-3 Quarterfinals: Australia 36 Indonesia 0 New Zealand 34 Thailand 6 (to be completed)
Photo: @umarshafiz
