The Philippine Women’s National Football Team has enjoyed a fantastic start to its 2022 AFF Women’s Championship campaign with three straight wins, 15 goals scored, and zero goals conceded.
The Filipinas’ impressive performances so far have allowed local fans to idolize new stars who have produced highlight plays against the likes of the Under-23 Australian Matildas, the Singaporean Lionesses, and the Harimau Malaya of Malaysia.
The latest standout performer of the Filipinas is midfielder Sara Eggesvik, who scored an impressive long-range strike and provided two assists against Malaysia. Beforehand, she scored her first goal for the Philippines in the 7-0 win over Singapore.
“It’s so fun to play here with the home crowd. It makes us energized and helps a lot. We should have scored more goals but I’m glad we got a win.
“It’s fun to contribute to two goals. It’s the team before me though. If anyone of us scores, I’m glad,” said the 5-foot-7 midfielder. “I remember getting the ball. I took some touches and I know the goalie was not that good at the high balls. I just tried to shoot and it went in and I got very happy about that.”
Despite an impressive performance, Eggesvik started the match on the bench. The 25-year-old Malvik player was brought on for the injured Kaya Hawkinson, who was taken off the game as a precaution.
Coaches always tell their players that they need to be ready anytime. It is safe to say that Bodo, Norway native followed that instruction to the letter as she was also able to provide assists for Quinley Quezada and Anicka Castaneda in the 4-0 rout against Malaysia.
“Stuff like that happens. We need to be ready to come up. I did not think that that would happen but I hope that Kaya is okay and I will do my best when I get playing time,” said Eggesvik.
“The feeling is great. It’s a good feeling to get goals.”
For his part, coach Alen Stajcic sees Eggesvik’s performance as a sign his players are fully immersing themselves in the culture and program he is instilling.
The 48-year-old mentor believes that the Filipinas can still improve in time for their next games but he is pleased that more and more of his wards are fighting harder to keep their spots with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on the horizon.
“Sara is only new to the team so she gets in a little bit more trouble than the others in video sessions but she’s a quick learner,” said Stajcic. “We can see when she can just come on to the field like she did today, almost at a quick of a finger, and she can come on and play like that just shows how far we’ve progressed as a team when a relatively new player to the squad can just slip right in.
“I definitely think that’s a strength of the squad but very important that we build the depth of the team and ensure that there’s a good progression in the team and good competition for places as well.”
The rise of Eggesvik bodes well for the Filipinas. More and more difference-makers from the team are needed if the Filipinas are to clinch positive results against tougher opposition in the international arena.
Her contributions will go a long way as the Filipinas seek to achieve another milestone on home soil.
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Catch the entire 2022 AFF Women’s Championship live on SMART Sports and Puso Pilipinas from July 4-18.
