The Philippine national women’s football team is grabbing every opportunity to gain experience by playing against higher-ranked teams.
National coach Alen Stajcic said this after Carleigh Frilles struck in each half as the no. 53 Philippines trounced Papua New Guinea, 5-1, in the first of their two friendly matches last Sunday night at the Western Sydney Wanderers Park.
“Good opportunity to play a game where we could dominate possession again and give some more players critical game time,” said Stajcic of the game vs the no. 51-ranked team.
Frilles raised her international goal tally to 10 with a neat left-footed finish inside the box after Jessika Cowart intercepted Papua New Guinea goalie Betty Sam’s weak goal kick in the 29th minute.
Tahnai Annis doubled the advantage at 2-0 nine minutes in the 39th minute, off Kaya Hawkinson’s through ball. They were in control from there.
“Even though we were a bit rusty and clunky at times, there were some really good moments, too. Looking forward to building for the next game on Thursday,” said Stajcic.
The Filipinas will be based in Auckland, New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup after Team Base Camps were confirmed by FIFA on Monday.
They will play their first two matches in Dunedin and Wellington, respectively.
Their base camp will be in Auckland, where they will play their last match of the group stage.
It marks the first time that the FIFA Women’s World Cup participants have a dedicated TBC.
TBCs are considered as “home away from home” for teams and includes a training site and accommodation.
FIFA confirmed that the Filipinas will have Olympic Park as training site and the Movenpick Hotel Auckland as their official TBC hotel in their first-ever participation in the tournament.
