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Sports

Filipinas take a bow in World Cup show grace in 2-0 loss to Switzerland

Olmin Leyba - The Philippine Star
Filipinas take a bow in World Cup show grace in 2-0 loss to Switzerland
The Filipinas draw cheers from the crowd while inset shows Switzerland’s Ana Maria Crnogorcevic, left, disputing possession against Hali Long during the second half.

MANILA, Philippines — For 90 exhilarating minutes, the Filipinas lived the dream every football player nurtured.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup debutants plunged into action in the Mother of All Battles for the first time, gamely took on a forward-pushing rivals from Switzerland and heck, even scored a nifty goal early that was waived off due to offside position.

Truly, it was a meaningful one for the squad from football minnows Philippines but results-wise, the welcome-to-the-big-league gig wasn’t as sweet as Swiss chocolate.

With Ramona Bachmann and Seraina Piubel scoring in each side of the half, the Swiss gave the Filipinas a reality check on a chilly Friday night in Dunedin, New Zealand in the form of a 2-0 verdict.

Endgame stats showed the world No. 20 Swiss enjoying 64 percent of possession on the pitch of the Forsyth Barr Stadium and conjuring 19 attempts, including nine on target, against the Filipinas, who could only threaten thrice.

But what it didn’t show was the plenty of fight the Pinay booters put up throughout.

“For us to compete against a strong European team like Switzerland is miraculous. You saw true spirit, true heart, a team that never gave up,” Philippine coach Alen Stajcic said.

Stajcic’s troops return to the proverbial drawing board as they shift their focus to the second of their tough oppositions in Group A: New Zealand and their hordes of home supporters over in Wellington on Tuesday.

The Football Ferns showed their fangs with a 1-0 victory over fancied Norway in the WC opener last Wednesday in Auckland.

Eighteen months after their phenomenal rise in women’s football, it was time for the now-certified World Cuppers to prove they belong.

Cheered by a roaring group of flag-waving kababayans joining them on this emotional day, the Pinay booters held tough against an opponent 26 places higher in the world ranking.

There was a Philippine celebration at the 15th minute when Katrina Guillou got space to attack, rounded keeper Gaelle Thalmann and fired it home. But it fizzled out quickly as the assistant referee ruled that Guillou was in an offside position and nullified the goal.

The Swiss seized the opportunity for a breakthrough against the resolute Philippine defense in the stoppage time of the first half when the referee, after a VAR (video assistant referee) review, called a foul on Jessica Cowart on Coumba Sow, and awarded a penalty.

Bachmann, a forward who plays for the Paris Saint-Germain French Division 1 Feminine, took care of business and sent Pinay keeper Olivia McDaniel the wrong way for 1-nil.

Nineteen minutes after Bachmann became Switzerland’s all-time top scorer in the WC with four goals, Seraina Piubel netted a follow-up that wasted the double save of custodian Olivia McDaniel and put the game beyond the debutant’s reach.

“First time to come to the World Cup, you expect nerves, players to really suffer from the occasion. But I think our players didn’t show that today. Their qualities were amazing,” said Stajcic.

“We’re a bit unlucky with the offside goal early. I think it was really offside but if it went our way, maybe the game changes a little bit as well. But I think we showed that we’re competitive and that’s the main thing.”

 

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