DUNEDIN — Alen Stajcic has doubts about whether the Philippine Women’s National Football Team should have conceded a penalty against Switzerland in its 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup debut at Forsyth Barr Stadium here.
Following a VAR pause during the match, Togolese referee Vincentia Amedome pointed to the spot after Filipinas midfielder Jessika Cowart was deemed to have fouled Switzerland’s Coumba Sow inside the box.
Ramona Bachmann then stepped up and converted the spot-kick to give her side a one-goal cushion just before the halftime break, much to the frustration of those supporting the Philippine team.
During an exchange with a foreign reporter in the post-match press conference, the Australian mentor turned the tables around and asked the person their thoughts on the game-changing incident.
“I haven’t seen the replay,” said Stajcic. “It’s supposed to be clear and obvious. If it’s a VAR decision, from my understanding, it’s supposed to be a clear and obvious error. I don’t know; I didn’t see the replay, so you know more than me.”
While conceding the penalty in that way was a talking point for the former Central Coast Mariners mentor, he admits that Switzerland was the better team in the 90 minutes of action. Aside from Katrina Guillou’s goal that was ruled out due to offside, the Filipinas failed to properly test the La Nati defense.
Indeed, there is still a lot to be done for the Philippines to not just keep in pace with the international game’s top sides but also to overcome these breaks of the game and actually win against them.
“I thought Switzerland was the better team, but they also had those fortunate moments — the penalty, which was a close call. If that doesn’t go in, then it’s nil-all at halftime and a different game, but there’s no doubt they were the better team, and they should be,” said Stajcic.
“I was really proud of the spirit our team showed.”
For now, it’s back to the drawing board for Stajcic, his staff, and the players for their crunch tie against host nation New Zealand this Tuesday here in Wellington. While their first match in the World Cup did not go to plan, there is still a lot to be encouraged about.
The first match of the Philippines on the world stage is out of the way, and there was plenty to be pleased about.
“To come to this level and play against players from Europe, and we know that Europe is the strongest region for women’s football at this point in time and has been for the last three or four years, and they have some players who are playing for Arsenal, PSG, and Barcelona, and we have four or five starting players who don’t have a club… so for us to compete against a team like that is miraculous really,” said Stajcic.
“You saw true spirit, true heart, a team that never gave up, that was proud of their jersey, flag, proud of the people they represent, and I think that’s the most important thing.”
