By: Icko De Guzman
VIET TRI – The scoreboard showed defeat, but Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso saw something worth celebrating: the heart of his young squad.
In a physical battle at Viet Tri Stadium here, a lone strike from Alana Jančevski in first-half stoppage time proved to be the difference.
The well-taken goal silenced the Philippine crowd and handed Australia all three points, leaving the defending champions with little margin for error in the eight-team tournament.
“I’m not happy that we lost, but I’m extremely proud of our players,” Torcaso said after the match.
“We’ve got a very, very young group, and we’re proud of how they fought until the final whistle.”
The Filipinas refused to crumble after the setback, showing composure and determination in the second half.
In the 53rd minute, skipper Hali Long nearly delivered the equalizer, rising above her marker to meet a cross, only for Australian goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln to produce a save.
But the hungry, Young Matildas pressed high and disrupted the Filipinas’ rhythm.
Still, the Philippines carved out moments of promise, with quick counterattacks and bursts of pace from the wings keeping the opposition backline on alert.
For Torcaso, the performance was less about the final score and more about the growth of his side.
“Obviously, there’s pressure when you’re defending champions,” he said.
“But I believe the players handled it well today, and that’s going to help them grow. I truly believe we can step into the next game on the front foot.”
The loss leaves the Filipinas in a precarious position heading into their next assignment — a crucial showdown with unbeaten Myanmar on Wednesday.
Anything less than a win could make their path to the knockout stage far more complicated.
Still, Torcaso remains optimistic.
