Filipinas fly home with lament after Kenya loss

Quinley Quezada (left) and the Filipinas will have plenty to think about before the next international window.—PWNT PHOTO .

Coach Mark Torcaso couldn’t hide his disappointment after the Philippine women’s football team was handed a 4-1 loss by Kenya to close out its campaign in the Pink Ladies Week in Antalya, Turkiye.

“I felt like throughout the week, the girls responded well to the new system. We didn’t execute that completely,” Torcaso rued after Wednesday’s match against the team ranked 155th in the world.

Two goals conceded in the first half courtesy of Elizabeth Mutukiza’s opener seven minutes into the contest and an own goal from Jessika Cowart left the Filipinas in a catch-up mode the rest of the way.

Sarina Bolden scored her 31st international goal from the spot in the second half, but the Filipinas allowed Kenya to score two more that dashed any hopes of a comeback and also left the Philippines with plenty of lament before the next international window.

“There were a lot of individual errors, and errors that some of the girls know that they could be better at. Small errors, when you’re trying to put together a game plan, can affect you,” said Torcaso.

“And against a team like Kenya, who are quick, physical and have good individual players that play in good leagues around the world, they can punish you.”

The Philippines split its two matches in Turkiye, taking down Jordan, 3-0, in its first assignment over the weekend on two Bolden goals.