ALTHOUGH the Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT) showed a valiant defensive front, the team succumbed to the potent attack by the Australian squad in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (AFC WAC) on January 24,at the Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai, India. The world ranked #11 Australian Women’s National Football Team—or the Commonwealth Bank Matildas—trounced the PWNFT in a 4-0 bout.

The PWNFT displayed a strong defensive effort in the first half, as the backline led by Hali Long showed a gallant effort in containing Australian powerhouse forwards Chelsea FC’s Sam Kerr and Manchester City’s Alanna Kennedy. Long continued to deny Kerr’s attempts on goal, while Dominique Randle displayed quality clearances to deal with Australia’s crosses. The disciplined backline proved frustrating for the Matildas, who failed to take their chances and find the back of the net.

Down at the goal line, goalkeeper Kiara Fontanilla showed deftness in denying repeated attempts by the Australian offense in her first international cap. Meanwhile, the best offensive chance made by the PWNFT was when forward Chandler McDaniel broke away from the Australian defense at the six-yard box and made an ambitious shot that sailed wide.

Up until the end of additional time, the PWNFT sustained its firm resilience. Despite Australia’s abundance of chances from corner kicks and crosses, the Matildas’ score sheet remained blank after a well-organized PWNFT defensive unit kept them at bay.

The second half saw the PWNFT succumb to a relentless Matildas offense that put 18 past Indonesia in their previous game. It took 51 minutes for Australia to open the floodgates, as Stephanie Catley’s precise corner kick met Kerr, who pursued a header down to the bottom left corner. Two minutes later, PWNFT’s Randle committed an own goal from Matilda Kyah Simon’s touch of the ball.

Pressing on the Philippine defensive line, Emily Van Egmond and Mary Fowler extended the lead for Australia with powerful strikes in the 67th and 87th minute, respectively.

As a result, Australia, the runners-up in the past two editions of the AFC WAC, leads Group B with 6 points from their 2-0-0 win-draw-loss slate. Meanwhile, the result leaves the Philippines ranking in second with 3 points from the team’s 1-0-1 win-draw-loss slate.

The Philippines is scheduled to play its final group stage match against Southeast Asian foe Indonesia, on Thursday, January 27, at the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at 10:00 PM, Manila time. A victory against the Indonesians would secure the PWNFT a berth in the quarterfinals.

Starting XI Philippines:

Long — Captain

Fontanilla — GK

Randle 

McDaniel

Miclat 

Bugay

Castañeda

Frilles

Harrison 

Bolden

Madarang

Starting XI Australia:

Kerr — Captain

Micah — GK

Polkinghorne

Catley

Foord

Van Egmond

Fowler

Yallop

Kennedy

Simon

Carpenter