FT Chile 1-0 Philippines The Philippines went down to 10 women early in the 2nd half after a tearful Eggesvik was issued her 2nd yellow card of the game. This is the first red card issued for the Philippines in the Stajcic era I believe. Interestingly the Philippines became more dangerous on offence when they went shorthanded as they drove for the equalizer to no avail. There was a flood of yellow cards for this very physical game for both sides with even Coach Alen Stajcic being issued one by the referee. Meryll Abrahamsen finally made her debut in the 77th minute as an attacking sub I believe as the Philippines kept on trying to push forward even when down a man looking for the tying goal but the Chilean defence was equal to the task.
I thought we played a better game in our loss today than the tied game a few days ago so I am pleased with the effort. They never gave up even when they were down a man after Eggesvik got her 2nd yellow. In fact I thought we became even more dangerous on offence down a man than with a full team earlier in the game. This is however the 5th straight game(3 losses and 2 draws) that the Philippines hasn't won a game ever since we began playing higher ranked teams outside our continent so we still have a lot of work to do if we want to get out of the group stage. It is a good experience for the girls to play all this stronger teams but like Coach Staj said they have to show us that they can win against higher ranked and better teams and not just be competitive with them at some point.
Coach Alen Stajcic: “I thought the first game we showed some good signs defensively and we were disciplined like we were often this year whereas in the second game, I thought in the first half we lacked the intensity and drive that we should have and should be the foundation of the team so that was a little bit disappointing but you know we more than compensated for it in the second half.” The Filipinas created numerous chances in the second half after Eggesvik was shown a red card. They pressed high and won the ball in good areas and always threatened in set pieces. Quinley Quezada fired a shot off target early in the second half, while substitute Bella Flanigan’s effort from a tough angle only grazed the crossbar. The Filipinas played with a drive and purpose which pleased Stajcic. “We showed so much heart and spirit, it was really one of the best efforts from us in the last 12 months to be able to almost get on the front foot with one player less and creates lots of chances and be positive and determined and showed all the attributes that we need to have within the group,” said Stajcic. “It was a really eye-opening and pleasing second half and we needed it because we needed to compensate for that lack of intensity that is required for international football.” Stajcic told the Filipinas that the second half performance should now be the benchmark moving forward, “I think the players now know that’s the benchmark and nothing below that will be accepted moving forward,” said Stajcic. “We need to be at our peak in that respect, in that part of the game, every single time we go across the field.” Stajcic was also delighted to see captain Hali Long deliver an outstanding performance. Long scored the first goal in the first match last Saturday. “We know we had some great leaders out there tonight and Hali Long was one of them,” said the Australian mentor. “It’s nice to see one of the captains of the team stand up and lead with courage and determination and hardwork when we most needed it.”
I know it's not fair to base opinions on highlights alone, but there are conclusions strong enough to form from the two games. The defense needs improvement. Reactions are slow and they are off on anticipation. I really hope they can improve the defense.
Hopefully Angela Beard will help improve the defence when she gets her passport and finally able to play for the Philippines. She has won a couple of player of the week awards in Denmark's top flight for a reason and is considered one of the best players in that league at left back. Meanwhile in Sweden, Katrina Guillou got her contract renewed by top tier club Pitea after being the 2nd highest goalscorer for her club this season. Katrina Guillou had two articles about her in PT.se The first article talks about Katrina renewing with Pitea. Pitea was very happy to re-sign Katrina despite having another team competing for her services. The club recognizes Guillou’s amazing year that featured outstanding performances in both national team duty and club. The second article lauds Katrina for being her own agent. Meanwhile in Norway, Meryll Abrahamsen who was one of top tier club Arne Bjornar's best players the past 2 years prior to her injury is looking for a new club after she lost nearly the entire 2022 season due to a serious muscle tear and then have a Japanese national team player claim her starting position at attacking midfielder in her absence. She hopes to find a new club that will allow her enough playing time to recover her old form in time for the World Cup.
The Philippine's starting defensive midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki who was unable to play the past 3 training camps for the Philippines(and whose ability to keep possession of the ball was sorely missed at midfield) was just named captain of her club Western United in Australia's top tier A League. That was surprising since she just signed and is making her debut for the club this season. That is a huge responsibility and something I don't think she was expecting at all from the looks of the video below. https://www.facebook.com/674275906/videos/pcb.510590621124414/699626501322984
https://wufc.com.au/news/jaclyn-sawicki-named-western-uniteds-inaugural-a-league-women-captain Philippines star Jaclyn Sawicki will go down in Western United history as the Club’s inaugural Liberty A-League Women captain. Sawicki will be joined by Chloe Logarzo and Hillary Beall as vice-captains, with the trio set to lead the squad into its first ever season. Joining the squad with big game experience for the Philippines national team and at club level in Japan and Sweden, Sawicki said she felt privileged to lead United’s inaugural team. “I am truly honoured to be named this year’s captain for our inaugural season, and I am ever more honoured to share the pitch with such amazing young and experienced players,” she said. “This is a unique opportunity and I am very excited to start the season with such a wonderful group.” Logarzo will be a role model for the young players in the team and will lead by example, demonstrating the professionalism and standards that are needed to perform at the highest level. Beall, while gearing up for her first minutes in senior professional football, has emerged as a vocal leader from the back of the pitch in goal. Sawicki, Logarzo and Beall will be supported by experienced pair Jess McDonald and Tyla Jay Vlajnic, who form the remainder of the leadership group for the inaugural season. Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso said the captains and the various leaders throughout the squad would drive the team forwards. “Jackie, Chloe and Hillary were all leading candidates for these roles. Jackie’s football presence is brilliant. She leads with her football and application, and she has come in and straight away and become a key member in the group,” he said. “We know what Chloe will bring when she gets up to speed here with her incredible quality and experience, and Hillary has really emerged as a strong leader on the pitch during games. “It’s not just those three as well, Jess and TJ will be huge for the group with their experience, which will really help us in big games. I’m pleased with the leadership throughout the group and confident it can help us achieve our goals.” Western United General Manger of Football Mal Impiombato said the five leaders would be vital in driving the culture of the entire Club. “We are fortunate to have formed a squad with an abundance of leaders that will continue to drive the professional standards we expect at Western United FC,” he said. “In appointing Jackie, Chloe and Hillary to lead the broader group and club, we have a trio of leaders and role models to continue to instil and drive the WUFC culture across our Women’s program. “They are complimented by a broader leadership team with an abundance of experience both locally and abroad, with Jess and TJ to add enormous value to the group.” Western United’s inaugural Liberty A-League match will take place on Saturday November 19 with a blockbuster clash against Melbourne Victory kicking off at 3pm at City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field.
Big mistake(or biased officiating) by the referee when she issued her 2nd yellow card to Sara Eggesvik. There was no foul. Not only did this reduce the team to 10 but she totally ignored the fact that one of the Chilean players was guilty of a handball in the penalty box. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=414411700891138 This reduced Sara to tears because she didn't do anything.
You might be right. If it pushes through, it might be PNG after all as they will be in Australia preparing for the February intercontinental playoffs. Australia will be helping them out by hosting them and could arrange the friendly. I think it would be a better idea for the Philippines to stay in the US and invite more US college players for tryouts but if Australia is shouldering some of the costs for hosting the training camp it is possible they could entice the Philippines to play those friendlies there instead.
Not a big fan of this match up but Wiki now lists 2 friendlies against PNG on Dec. 11 and 15. That would make the 4th OFC team the PWNT have played this year(and 31 games total) after not playing any team from that confederation in years past. Hopefully the PWNT gets to play some friendlies with A League Women's clubs as well while they are there.
The PWNT is scheduled to play 2 friendlies against Papua New Guinea Women's Team on Dec. 11 and 15 in Australia which will be outside the FIFA Window so they will be fielding an understrength team. Many pros players will be missing because they were not released by their clubs including some from the Philippines who are in the midst of the final four in the PFF Cup. Some US college players will also be missing because they have to take the Finals of their respective school semesters. On the positive side, they seem to have added a new player(Alicia Barker) to the roster to try out. Prospects Angela Beard and Chayze Ying are still working on their papers with Beard apparently situated in the Philippines at the moment most likely to get her passport at the DFA. Alicia Barker who plays defence in soccer is a former gymnast who specializes in throwing a flip throw.
FT Philippines 5-1 Papua New Guinea Frilles (x2), Annis, Serrano, Madarang Carleigh Frilles netted two goals to lead the Philippine women's football team past Papua New Guinea, 5-1, in their international friendly in Sydney, Australia on Sunday. Frilles opened the scoring near the half hour mark as Jessika Cowart exploited a short goal kick and dispossessed the Lakatois. The defender found Frilles easily for the finish to put the Filipinas ahead in the 29th minute. Tahnai Annis doubled the World No. 53 team's lead nine minutes after as she rampaged down the left flank and got past the Papua New Guinea goalkeeper anew. Meryll Serrano then added the icing on the cake with her first international goal at the 77th minute. The Filipinas, who are deep into their final camp of the year in Sydney as they prepare for their maiden appearance in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, will play Papua New Guinea anew on Thursday, December 15. https://www.philstar.com/sports/202...-scores-brace-filipinas-rout-papua-new-guinea Barker made her debut in the 2nd half and Serrano/Abrahamsen her first goal in only her 2nd cap as a sub in the 2nd half as well. Eggesvik was serving her red card suspension in the game against Chile and did not play. They dominated the play for most of the match and could have scored a lot more but left quite a few hanging close to goal.
Good performance by the PWNT considering the number of players that were not available for call up for various reasons or didn't play today: Eggesvik, Sawicki, Quezada, Long, Bolden, C.McDaniel, Beard, Ying, O. McDaniel, Bugay, Gabriel, Palacios many of whom are first choice starters normally. All 3 relatively new additions to the team: Serrano-Abrahamsen, Bonta and Barker also played well today and has helped improved the depth and competition for WC spots this summer. Both Bonta and Barker were part of Philippine ID tryout camps in the US when they were 15 y.o. many years ago and are only now getting their first opportunities to play for the Philippines in their early 20's after graduating college.
Alicia Barker came on in the 77th minute against Papua New Guinea in her debut and played well at right back a position that she has played most of her career. The PWNT needed to add depth at the right wingback position and so far she seems tailor made to fit that role demonstrating in limited minutes her speed, technique and passing ability. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=909100847200439 She didn't make her signature move, a flip throw in this game though since there wasn't enough space in the sidelines to do that.
The only problem with Barker is just like many of our players in the national team pool who have established careers outside of football or are in med school or working on their graduate degrees, Alicia works as associate scientist/biomedical engineer in the real world which might limit her availability to play for the PWNT. One possible positive effect of Barker playing for the PWNT though is that she might be able to convince her friend and fellow Fil Am Sam Hiatt of the top flight NWSL Seattle Reign to play for us. They are both Seattle natives and played in the defunct WPSL Seattle Sounders in the past I believe with Hiatt at centerback and Barker at right back.
FULL TIME 2nd game 9-0 Sara Eggesvik 11' Katrina Guillou 24' 72' (pen) Jessika Cowart 46' Tahnai Annis 53' (Own goal) 55' Quinley Quezada 65' 85' 87' Another dominant performance by the Philippines as they used the game to practice their short passing tiki taka skills on the way to the goal helping unlock PNG's defensive counterattacking strategy. Coach Staj was so impressed by Barker in the first game that she was given the starting role in the 2nd match at right back along with relatively recent additions at centerback Bonta and Alcantara. He felt so confident in the result that 16 y.o. goalkeeper Jota was even given a chance to earn her first cap in goal in the 2nd half. Eggesvik controlled the proceedings at midfield and was her usual aggressive self winning and keeping possession of the ball in the PNG half of the field leading to many chances on goal led by Katrina Guillou. Great game to end the year to cap the most successful year in PWNT history as they prepare for their maiden appearance to the FIFA Women's World Cup next year with 31 total games played in 2022. Interestingly their 2 dominant wins against PNG should give the PWNT a slight bump in the FIFA rankings as the current OFC champions PNG(with the absence of New Zealand) is surprisingly 2 spots ahead at 51st place of the AFF defending women's champion Philippines(Australia only sent their U23 team to the most recent tournament) in the standings.
Coach Alen Stajcic comments after the 2nd game: "It was a much better performance from the other night,” said coach Alen Stajcic. "It’s probably the first time this year that we controlled the game from start to finish and really something that we’ve spoken about. It was pleasing to see it happen within the game." "I'm not really worried about the scoreline, but I’m really worried about the way we play and I thought it was a big improvement not only from last week on our ability to control the ball and control the game.”
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64019950?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA Pinatar Cup February 2023 Wales Philippines Scotland Iceland Good preparation for the Philippines. Unlike the previous friendlies the Philippines had this year where many players weren't available due to pro and college commitments or passports that were still pending, most likely most players will be available for call up in February so this tournament would be a good gauge on how they will do in the World Cup.
The Philippines being included is surprising since the Pinatar Cup usually only have European teams in the past. The Phillippines is the first non UEFA side invited to join since the Pinatar Cup was established in 2020. The PFF did say they will be applying to a pocket tournament in Europe but I thought it would be for the Cyprus Women's Cup but this is just as good since these teams will mimic the European teams plus New Zealand they will be facing in their group at the World Cup including a Scandinavian team(Iceland) in the top 16 rankings that plays a similar style to Norway. The PFF applying early helped their cause I think. There are plenty of Filipinos living in Spain and neighboring EU nations so expect good fan support.
The Pinatar Cup is official. READ: https://pff.org.ph/.../filipinas-to-face-european-teams.../ The Philippine Women’s National Team will see action in a competition in Europe for the first time as the Filipinas vie in the Pinatar Cup 2023 from 15 to 21 February 2023 in San Pedro del Pinatar in Murcia, Spain. Sustaining their buildup for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Filipinas will be facing higher-ranked European sides Wales, Scotland and Iceland in the Pinatar Cup 2023. The Filipinas’ first match will be against 32nd ranked Wales on 15 February. Their next opponent will be 25th ranked Scotland on 18 February, before they wrap up their campaign against 16th ranked Iceland on 21 February. All matches will be played at the Pinatar Arena Football Center in San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain. Scotland qualified to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, but missed out on next year’s tournament. Wales and Iceland have yet to qualify for the FWWC. “Competing in the Pinatar Cup is a great opportunity for the Filipinas to familiarize themselves with European teams ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta, Jr. “It’s definitely a big help to the team’s preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.” PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes expressed gratitude to tournament organizer IAST Sports for including the Filipinas in the roster of teams for this year’s competition. The FIFA window in February is a Type II window where teams can play a maximum of three matches. “We thank IAST Sports, led by its CEO David Vailing, for extending their invitation to the Philippine Women’s National Team in the Pinatar Cup,” said Gastanes. “It will be exciting to see our Filipinas play against strong teams from Europe.” Filipinas team manager Jefferson Cheng said the matches will allow the coaching staff led by Alen Stajcic to gauge the team’s readiness in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. “We are leveling up our preparations for the FWWC and the team will benefit playing against stronger more experienced teams,” said Cheng. The Filipinas will be playing in Europe for the first time since June 2022 when they won back to back friendly matches against Bosnia Herzegovina in Slovenia. The Filipinas are slated to face Switzerland, co-hosts New Zealand, and Norway in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Australian sites and podcasts have finally started discussing Angela Beard switching from the Matildas to the Filipinas. This first became a possibility when Angie turned down an invitation to join the Matildas in their training camp in June of this year and hasn't been part of their setup ever since. She then appeared at the PWNT training camp in Los Angeles a few months later and played a friendly against a club there for them. However she couldn't play in any official friendlies until she finally gets her Philippine passport which she should be getting soon. On the latest podcast of The Far Post (Australian Women's Football Podcast), the host discuss briefly on Angie Beard possibly switching allegiance to the Philippines (21:55 min and 58:50 min), they seem to have given up on Angie Beard continuing to be a Matilda but respect her decision and wishes her goodluck. They also rate her very highly and thinks she will do brilliantly and start a lot of game's in next years Women's World Cup playing for the Philippines. Angie has done well for herself in the top flight in Denmark and is considered one of the best left backs in that league winning several Players of the Week Top XI awards this past season. She is on the verge of finally getting her Philippine passport and will most likely make her debut in the Pinatar Cup.
She has actually been called up several times by the Matildas in the past year and earned 3 caps during that period but only as a substitute. She might have turned down the latest callup in June because she wanted a more significant role as a starter on the Philippine team. Australia's Swedish coach Gustavsson (who has a preference for players with Euro league professional experience) actually liked her because of her important role with her Danish club but the Matildas already had an established starter and other options as alternates(including Beard) at left back so she might have felt she would have better opportunities as a starter and a guaranteed position on the WC roster with the Filipinas. She has represented Australia at U17 and U20 level in the past as well. As alluded to in the ESPN discussion, she isn't the only former Matilda who has bolted or possibly might bolt to a different national team. I believe New Zealand's WNT has been a beneficiary with several players in that category as well. I think Beard's addition at left back with her extensive professional experience would solidify the backline for the Filipinas especially with the promising debut of Barker at right back as well. They also added recently several good young, solid and tall players at centerback including Alcantara and Bonta to push for a spot in the WC roster alongside Long, Cowart and Randle on defence giving Coach Staj many options to choose from at that critical position. It would even be better if USWNT alternate centerback Sam Hiatt would make the switch as well but the recent CBA with the USSF providing equal bonuses and rewards for men and women on the USNT might have persuaded her to stay.