Filipinas fall to powerhouse Sweden in friendly ahead of Fifa Women’s World Cup
Filipinas in training ahead of their Fifa Women’s World Cup campaign. Photo from PFF
The Philippine women’s football team was handed a 5-1 loss by Sweden in their closed-door friendly held before the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Details were sketchy given the nature of the match but the Swedish Football Association said on its website that Stina Blackstenius of English club Arsenal produced a hat trick to highlight the lopsided result held in Wellington.
Article continues after this advertisementFridolina Rolfo and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd also scored for the Swedish side seen as one of the contenders in Fifa’s premier showpiece.
No info was given on how the Philippines scored its consolation goal.
The Filipinas have not provided their own account of the match as of posting time.
Article continues after this advertisementThe match had three 30-minute periods instead of two 45-minute halves as per agreement of the two teams.
Coach Alen Stajcic’s side used the match as a final warmup before the start of the World Cup campaign on Friday against Switzerland.
Co-captain Hali Long earlier described the match to gauge how the Filipinas progressed in the 18 months after clinching a historic World Cup berth.
Quinley Quezada, on the other hand, saw the intense and physical play of Sweden as a chance to help toughen the Filipinas.
