The Philippine Women’s National Football Team made light work of Fiji in its preparations for the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games campaign with a 7-2 at the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Park in Sydney, Australia.
“The result was one thing but we’re looking at our performance. There were some good patches, some good moments but we were a bit rusty in some parts just because players were out for two months, not training in a team environment,” said Philippines coach Alen Stajcic.
“Overall, it’s a good starting point for us.”
In their first official game after that glorious AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 campaign, Stajcic’s squad enjoyed a hot start to the contest.
On her birthday no less, forward Quinley Quezada broke the deadlock with a goal 13 minutes into the game.
Midfielder Anicka Castaneda and skipper Tahnai Annis then scored braces for the team on the 17th and 44th and 40th to 43rd minutes with Dominique Randle scoring the Filipinas’ other goal at the 34th minute.
Come the second half, the Fijians were able to score twice to cut the deficit to just a four-goal lead for the Filipinas. Midfielder Cama Nasau pulled one back at the 50th minute while Adi Volitikoro scored another one at the 63rd minute.
However, Quezada added to her tally at the 79th minute to secure her own brace.
“We were a bit rusty on the ball as the match wore on. That’s just a result of a couple of months out and just four to five days of training. But we’ll be working hard to ensure we get back to the levels where we were during the Asian Cup,” added Stajcic.
“We got another match on Monday and three more matches and another two weeks in camp before we fly to Vietnam. It’s really good preparation for the SEA Games.”
Both teams shall play against each other again on Monday.
Philippines XI: McDaniel (GK), Flanigan, Long, Randle, Harrison, Miclat, Bugay, Annis, Castaneda, Quezada, Cesar.
Fiji XI: Vasuitoga (GK), Bakaniceva, Tora, Nainima, Tuberi, Tabua ©, Ranadi, Davis, Veronika, Tamanitoakula, Likwculacula.
