Hello again, world
Jael-Marie Guy and Jaclyn Sawicki did something out of the ordinary after they linked up for the goal that not only doubled the Philippine women’s football team’s lead over Uzbekistan, but also punched the country’s return ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Thursday.
After Guy’s cross set up Sawicki for a headed goal in the 52nd minute of their play-in match at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Gold Coast, Australia, the two celebrated with the “6-7” gesture popular among the younger generation.
The celebration was deliberate: Sawicki wears No. 6, while Guy sports No. 7.
“One of the fans had done a video of us just talking and they did the ‘6-7’ and we thought it was so funny,” Guy said in the postmatch press conference after the 2-0 result. “We thought, why don’t we do that as a celly (celebration) if one of us scores?
“It was just perfect that I was the one who assisted that goal, so it was preplanned,” added Guy, still a sophomore at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, who emerged as a central figure in the Filipinas’ latest achievement.
Just months removed from turning 18, the daughter of an American father who served in the US Army and a Filipino mother delivered a performance that bridged generations—those who played in the Filipinas’ first World Cup stint in 2023 and those set to take part in the 2027 edition in Brazil.
She also set up the opening goal five minutes earlier, whipping in a cross from the right flank toward a charging Angie Beard, who struck a left-footed volley that hit the bottom of the bar before crossing the line to break the deadlock.
The assist to Sawicki came from the same area and the goal proved to be the cushion the Filipinas needed to become the fifth Asian team to qualify for the sport’s biggest stage.
Beard and Sawicki are headed for another World Cup berth, while Guy appears poised to become one of the team’s key figures when the Filipinas compete in Brazil.
“It’s kind of a blur,” said Guy. “When you’re in the game, you just want to go toward the goal. Going into the second half, we wanted to score—that was the goal, to just win.
Made her mark
“Whenever I got the ball, I immediately thought of getting it toward goal, finding people in dangerous positions. I was really thinking about scoring or assisting.
“I knew the defender I was up against had played the same amount, but I felt good, I felt fresh even after 45 minutes. I just wanted to take advantage of that and get the ball near the net.”
Since joining the senior team, Guy has already made her mark on the Filipinas’ recent success. She scored the equalizer in the semifinal of the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand against the host nation.
She also converted in the shootout of both that semifinal and the final against the dethroned champion Vietnam, helping deliver the Philippines’ first-ever gold in the regional meet.
“To have one of our future stars play in a big game like this and help us qualify for the World Cup is a testament to her and her family,” said coach Mark Torcaso. “Jael’s one of those players coming through our program who can be successful for our national team for many, many years.”
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