Philippine women’s football team vs Wales in the Pinatar Cup. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Philippine women’s football team absorbed a 1-0 loss to Wales as its campaign in the Pinatar Cup got underway on Wednesday (early Thursday Manila time) in Spain.
A penalty by Welsh striker Kayleigh Green shortly before the halftime whistle spelled the difference as the Filipinas went down in defeat at Pinatar Arena in the Spanish town of San Pedro del Pinatar.
Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel’s performance between the sticks was among the few bright spots during the opening game of the tournament which serves as part of coach Alen Stajcic side’s preparation for the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Stajcic had his usual starters, with McDaniel being joined by Dom Randle, Hali Long, Jessika Cowart, Alicia Barker, Tahnai Annis, Carleigh Frilles, Bella Flanigan, Sofia Harrison, Sara Eggesvik and Quinley Quezada.
Katrina Guillou, Eva Madarang, Meryll Soriano, Anicka Castaneda and Kaya Hawkinson were later inserted as substitutes while Inna Palacios, Kiara Fontanila, Cam Rodriguez, Reina Bonta and Maya Alcantara composed the rest of the squad list.
Striker Sarina Bolden and midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki, among the key players of the Filipinas, didn’t see action after joining the team recently, but could be available on Saturday when they take on Scotland.
The Filipinas kept the game scoreless, with McDaniel leading the way, until Wales’ Rhiannon Roberts fell after a challenge by Randle inside the box.
That allowed Green, who plays for English side Brighton and has been with the Welsh national team since 2012, to convert the marginal goal off McDaniel.