The Filipinas, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team decidedly won its first match on April 7, 2022 after qualifying in the FIFA World Cup 2023. For non-football fans, FIFA is an abbreviation, it stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association which means International Federation of Association Football in English. The FIFA World Cup is the highest level of football competition for national teams.
FIFA World Cup 2023 will be held in nine host cities and ten stadiums across Australia and New Zealand. The event which will welcome the world’s best players and football fans in 2023 will hold the Opening Match in Auckland while Sydney is to host the Final. Australia and New Zealand to host one semi-final each.
The Filipinas is here in Sydney for training and playing friendly games as part of its preparation for the world cup. Despite the heavy rain, the friendly match against Fiji Women’s National Team kicked off on time at 5pm. The first half saw a stronger and more organised Filipas winning the first part of the game with the score of 6:0.
For the first few minutes of the second half, few players were substituted and there seemed to be less intense defence by the Filipinas which Fiji WNT took advantage of, to score two goals. But the Filipinas re-grouped to further its score margin. Full time score was 7:2.
It was overall a good team effort which enabled the goals by Quinley Quesada (2), Anicka Castañeda (2), Dominique Randle (1) and Tahnai Annis, Team Captain (2).
The match report published by the Philippine Football Federation shared the exciting details of the game :
It only took 13 minutes for Quezada to open the scoring, firing into the near post after a through ball from Castañeda.
Quezada got her second goal in the 79th minute, turning and finding the bottom corner after getting on the end of Alisha Del Campo’s ball in the middle.
Castañeda headed home the Filipinas’ second in the 17th minute off a fine cross from Malea Cesar on the right flank. Randle scored from close range after the Fijians failed to clear a set piece, while Annis delivered a quickfire double just before halftime.
Fiji grabbed a goal early in the second half, and added another in the 63rd minute, before Quezada punctuated the victory with a clinical finish.
“It was a tough match in tough conditions,” said team manager Jefferson Cheng. “I’m happy for the team for the good result. We’ll keep working hard.”
Head Coach Alen Stajcic comments on Filipinas game are as follows:
Torrential rain did not deter the Fil-Aus supporters of Filipinas to make their way through to the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Field. A good number of members of the Filipino Sports Arts & Recreation Club (FILSPARC) and Blacktown residents cheered the two teams playing in the rain. It was a lovely way for Quinley Quezada to celebrate her 25th birthday with the crowd singing ‘happy birthday song’ after the match.
The Filipino warm hospitality was also shown by FILSPARC which presented a big box of fruits for the players and staff, with Mate Burger also providing trays of sandwiches, mini burgers and bottes of water.
Team Manager, Jefferson Cheng expressed his appreciation of the support of the local community.
“Thank you to the Filipino community here in Western Sydney who braved the rain and also our supporters at home and around the world who enjoyed the live stream to see our Filipinas in their first outing after the Asian Cup and World Cup Qualification.”
An interview of Jeff Cheng by Radio Tagumpay, will be aired back-to-back with the interview of Malea Cesar, one of the youngest players of Filipinas. Radio Tagumpay airs on Monday, April 11, at 2-4pm on Triple H 100.1FM and can be streamed via: Homepage - Triple H 100.1 FM (triplehfm.com.au)
The Filipinas plays the return match with Fiji on Monday at 3pm at the same venue. Entry at the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Park (in Blacktown) is free.
(Acknowledgement: Philippine Women's National Football Team FB page.)