PH match vs US makes internet rounds after World Cup

The Filipinas pose for posterity with the US team, which featured some of the sport’s biggest stars. —PFF PHOTO

The conclusion of the Fifa (International Association Football Federation) Women’s World Cup finally gave the Filipinas the opportunity to reveal details of their experience before their historic campaign, like the closed-door training matches against the United States and Sweden.

Photos of the two friendlies were posted early Monday on the team’s social media pages, including the Filipinas and the Americans posing as a group after their 70-minute training match that happened July 14, a week before they opened their World Cup stint against Switzerland.

Action shots of the Filipinas taking on Sweden, which eventually placed third after defeating tournament cohost Australia in the consolation match last Saturday, were also posted as part of its appreciation to both the United States Soccer Federation and the Swedish Football Association.

“We thank US Soccer and Swedish Football Association for the opportunity to play against the top teams in the world and thank all athletes at the Fifa Women’s World Cup for inspiring and challenging footballers everywhere to be better,” the team said.

The World Cup concluded Sunday with Spain defeating England, 1-0, in Sydney on the lone goal courtesy of Olga Carmona in the first half (See related story on this page).

The group picture with the Americans, which was shown to the Inquirer in advance on the condition it would be embargoed until after the World Cup, showed Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, among others, joining Sarina Bolden, Olivia McDaniel, Hali Long, Sara Eggesvik and the rest of the Filipinas.

The United States won, 3-0, in the match which it hosted at its base camp in Auckland. The Americans, at the time, were groomed to win a third successive World Cup but were stunningly knocked out in the round-of-16 by Sweden via penalties.

Both teams agreed to keep the match under wraps during the duration of the tournament, but there were several leaks, most prominently ESPN’s quick mention of the match in one of its stories after the Americans defeated Vietnam last July 23.

Sweden beat the Filipinas, 5-1, in the other pre-World Cup training match, with Angie Beard revealed as the lone goal-scorer for the Philippines. INQ