Gritty Filipinas now down to proverbial last World Cup shot
The Philippine women’s football team will now bank on the silver linings from its quarterfinal loss to Japan in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup as the Filipinas now turn their attention to a second chance at securing a return trip to the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
A 7-0 quarterfinal loss to the mighty Japanese side on Sunday in Sydney, Australia, relegated the Filipinas to a play-in encounter with Uzbekistan, with the winner to get a spot in next year’s big showcase in Brazil.
Coach Mark Torcaso seemed to have come into the matchup with Japan having his eyes set on Uzbekistan, opting to bench top goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel in place of Nina Meollo, who kept a clean sheet until the Filipinas conceded twice before halftime.
Aside from Meollo, Torcaso also placed Jourdyn Curran a spot in the starting lineup as part of the Philippines’ midfield.
“I thought they were outstanding,” Torcaso said of the Japanese during the postmatch press conference as he tried to keep a positive outlook moving forward, knowing that the Uzbekistan showdown would be the most logical chance to make the World Cup.
Their face-off is on Thursday, with the Filipinas, with a win over the Uzbeks, to join Japan, South Korea, China, Australia and the winner of the North Korea-Chinese-Taipei play-in matchup as Asia’s World Cup representatives to the big event.
Can’t afford a loss
A loss, however, will place the Filipinas in an even harder World Cup road, through the inter-confederation playoffs, where they will face a team from a different continent.
Obviously, Torcaso and the Filipinas would rather secure their spot now than later.
“We knew that this game [against Japan] will [either] get us to the World Cup directly, or if we lost, we have to focus on our next game,” Torcaso said. “We have a second chance, we are very positive and determined to get back to the World Cup.”
Uzbekistan, which lost, 6-0, to South Korea in the quarterfinals, is no stranger to the Filipinas.
The two sides met in a friendly last October at Rizal Memorial Stadium, with the match ending in a 2-2 tie after the Filipinas squandered a two-goal lead in the second half.
The familiarity factor might play a role in the Filipinas’ chances.
