Tough loss again for the Filipinas.
Once again, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT) put up a spirited fight against higher ranked opposition. But, once again, the Filipinas’ great effort fell just short as they absorbed a 2-1 defeat against Scotland for their second consecutive loss in the Pinatar Cup.
The match at the Pinatar Arena looked eerily similar to the Filipinas’ opening-day loss to 32nd-ranked Wales, with the World Cup-bound PWNFT keeping things close early before surrendering a goal to Lauren Davidson at the 40th minute. Unlike in the opener against Wales, however, the Filipinas could not keep Scotland from scoring again, as the Scots found the back of the net once more at the 60th minute courtesy of Rachel Corsie.
Despite the loss, though, the Filipinas can take solace in Meryll Serrano scoring the team’s first goal in the tournament: a laser of a kick off a set piece that blazed low and fast past Scottish goalkeeper Jenna Fife.
It came a little too late, but Serrano’s goal at the around the 90th minute proves the Filipinas can find the back of the net against elite competition. For the better part of two games, the team had struggled to put out a sustained offensive, with both Wales and Scotland winning the possession battle and keeping the PWNFT on the defensive for long stretches.
It is an issue coach Alen Stajcic had previously pointed out, and it appears the Filipinas are working on that aspect slowly but surely, with Serrano's goal as Exhibit A. But it should be noted, too, that the Filipinas executed beautifully on another set piece at the 80th minute, with Sara Eggesvik feeding Hali Long inside the box, only to be denied by Fife after a collision. Meaning, there is progress on that end for the this history-making team.
Those two plays—Serrano’s breakthrough goal and Long’s missed opportunity—nearly 10 minutes apart should give the Filipinas a confidence boost going in to their next match against 16th-ranked Iceland. More importantly, those two plays show that the Filipinas can make plays on both ends, and that ought to inspire the team as it continues its preparations for the World Cup later this year.