Filipinas ahead of their friendly in Costa Rica. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine women’s football team failed to sustain a halftime lead and suffered a 2-1 loss to Costa Rica in their series of two friendly matches on Wednesday (Manila time) at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose.
Carleigh Frilles scored the opener before the break but the Filipinas blew a chance to double their lead before conceding two goals that allowed the home side to come away with the win in the Costa Rican capital.
Raquel Rodriguez equalized off a penalty before Gloriana Villalobos delivered the winner for the Las Ticas, who like the Filipinas have qualified for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The match was the last before Fifa releases its latest world rankings on Thursday. The rankings will determine the pot where coach Alen Stajcic’s side will be placed for the World Cup draw slated later this month.
Frilles struck her ninth international goal, scoring on a counterattack off a through ball from Bella Flanigan two minutes into the first half stoppage.
It could have been a 2-0 lead for the Filipinas minutes into the restart when Costa Rica was whistled for a hand ball inside the penalty area, but Tahnai Annis’ attempt from the spot hit wide left.
Costa Rica found a break when Jessika Cowart committed a hand ball from a corner, resulting in Rodriguez’s. tying score in the 61st.
Villalobos would stun the Filipinas in the 68th when she fired a shot from 20 yards out that put Costa Rica ahead for good.