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A hit at the Women’s Asian Cup saw the Philippines qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in its history.
Filipinos back off after an exhausting fight 0-2 loss to South Korea In the semi-finals, Salina Bolden, who scored a goal in the quarter-final penalty shootout against Chinese Taipei, was clearly impressed by the team’s progress in the tournament.
“This team has grown a lot. Over the past few years, look how far we’ve come. We played against Nepal, Myanmar and others and we could barely let people down, but looking at it now, we’re getting with Australia and [South] South Korea,” she said almost breathlessly.
“I’m so proud of this team and what we’ve brought. A lot of people doubted us, but we fought in every game and now we’ve made a name for ourselves. Philippines you’ll remember this team Team, you’ll see us at the World Cup. So don’t forget us, we’ll be back,” she added.
fearless group
In a tournament that appears to enjoy underdog success, the Filipino storyline might be best described as fearless. This is a young team with no players over the age of 27. While a handful of players have traded for foreign football systems in the U.S., Japan and parts of Europe, the team doesn’t really have the experience safety blanket to tuck in when the going gets tough. Currently ranked 64th in the world, it is tied with Indonesia (94th) and better-ranked Thailand (38th) and Australia (11th).
It reached the semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Thailand, who had not beaten their opponents in their previous 12 attempts. The team lost 4-0 to Australia, but it wasn’t bad luck in this game either. Its defensive strategy and perseverance kept Matildas in for 51 minutes before captain Sam Cole broke the deadlock. The Philippines bounced back strongly with a 6-0 victory over Indonesia to reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup for the second time in a row.
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“We did have some injuries (against Australia). Our top two goalkeepers were both injured and in the end we had to have Kristina Guillou out for a while. They were a couple of key players and we had some COVID issues. We didn’t Giving it our all, it shows how impressive we are,” said head coach Alen Stajcic, who recently took over in October 2021, following the defeat in Australia.
“The players on the team want to change the game at home. They want to inspire the next generation and they talk about that a lot.”
It takes effort to get inspired, and after 120 minutes of play, there was no difference between the two teams, which made for a huge effort from the girls, who eventually progressed to the semi-finals 4-3 on penalties.
vocal, active
The girls of Stajcic are a vocal group. You can hear the constant chatter on the pitch, their instructions and encouragement in the local language and the English flying across the pitch; pep talking to the goalkeeper in every defensive lane, the bench adds to everything. The tense energy also translates into their style of play. They’re fast and aggressive – they don’t hold back and passive even if they find themselves chasing opponents in the race.
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Naturally, the celebrations didn’t stop when teams booked their first World Cup berth. No amount of cramping, entangled energy, or the pain of a long game can dampen the joy.
“Filipinos, our resilience is legendary. No matter what, you see Filipinos putting their heart and soul into everything they do. You see girls communicating, screaming, screaming wherever they are Shout out. That’s what we do. We’re loud and we’re proud,” Bolden said in the mixed zone after the game.
In the semi-finals, the team faced an equally dynamic South Korean team – the very same team that denied it a chance at the 2019 Women’s World Cup. However, that weight no longer hangs on the shoulders and the team tries to play South Korea in the semifinals. Two easy first-half goals effectively sealed the game for the latter, but a clearly exhausted Martitas did not give up. With goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel in the busiest half of her campaign, the team heroically denied South Korea any chance to increase their lead.
The adrenaline in this Asian Cup is exhausted, and the motivation can only take away the tired body, but the team exits knowing that bigger and better things will happen.
“It’s probably the best experience of my coaching career. We’re making history almost every time we step on the field, there’s nothing more to ask for. The standards and expectations have been raised in the country and now everyone has to join. We have to now Preparing for the World Cup and making sure we do what we can as a country to give these players the best possible chance at that stage,” Stasic said at the end of the team’s campaign.
Before the semifinals, Bolden told cameras on the field that she hoped those who watched this team would continue to remember them. “Whether it’s Chandler, Olivia, Harry or anyone else. I want someone to stand out in front of them. I want us to make a lasting impression on the hearts of coaches, fans, peers and everyone watching the game impression,” she said. It’s safe to say that the world can’t wait to see what the Martitas have in store for us next.
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