Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time since their triumphant 2022 AFF Women’s Championship run, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team fell short in a 0-1 loss to Chinese Taipei, witnessed by 3,312 fans, Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The match served as a prelude to their crucial campaign in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers.
Missing key forwards Sarina Bolden, Katrina Guillou, Quinley Quezada, and Bella Flanigan, the Filipinas struggled to find momentum in the attacking third.
Without their usual firepower, the team lacked the edge needed to break through Chinese Taipei’s defense.
The lone goal of the match came in the 27th minute when Chinese Taipei forward Saki Matsunaga capitalized on a poor first touch from Sara Eggesvik, slotting the ball past Olivia McDaniel into the back of the net.
”It’s always tough losing in any game in any sport but we kind of saw the character of our girls, what they’re actually about in the last 35 minutes,” said coach Mark Torcaso. “I can’t doubt the fight in these girls and that’s something we’ve been doing for the last six months. We’ve been constantly fighting and working hard for each other and I’m extremely proud of them.”
Torcaso’s squad found it difficult to generate meaningful chances throughout the match.
They relied heavily on set pieces and hopeful long balls into the box, but the Chinese Taipei defense stood firm, clearing away any potential threats.
Goalkeeper Yu-Ting Wang remained largely untested.
Chinese Taipei nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when Yu-Chin Chen rounded McDaniel and had a clear shot at goal, but she failed to convert.
As the clock wound down and rain began to pour, the Filipinas threw everything forward in search of a late equalizer.
Despite their efforts, it simply wasn’t their night. The lack of attacking depth turned what should have been a triumphant homecoming into a frustrating defeat.
The Filipinas now turn their focus to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in Cambodia later this month.
They are preparing to face Saudi Arabia on June 29, Cambodia on July 2, and Hong Kong on July 5. All matches will take place at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
“It’s not the result that we would want because obviously we would want to win every single game but it’s a good preparation game for the Asian Cup Qualifiers. That’s one thing that we’re looking forward to — going to Cambodia and having a good show for the country and qualify for the Asian Cup,” said Torcaso.
