Rousing applause as Pinay5 Futsal Team wins its first international friendly

Photo Credits: Futsal Philippines

As the time ran out, with the fans joining the countdown of the timer, the Pinay5 Futsal Team was given a loud and ecstatic round of applause as they won their first international friendly against Guam via three goals to one.

After losing the first match against the visitors by just a lone goal from Koharu Minato, the Philippines went out with one goal in mind; win the game in front of their home fans.

From the opening whistle, the Pinays went out with high pressure against the deep zone tactics of Guam. After just four minutes, Hannah Marie Muros scored the opener for the home side after a rocket of a strike.

The opening goal served as the ignitor for the Philippines as they continued to pressure Guam to make mistakes and expose their gaps. With 25 seconds remaining in the first half, the Philippines would then score their second goal thanks to a lovely sequence of play from the corner.

Goalscorer Muros took the corner quickly which allowed Catherine Calatin to find an open Aurea Coleen Reaso inside the penalty zone which she then converted into a goal. Even Reaso couldn't believe she has scored her first international goal for the country before celebrating with her teammates.

The half ended with the Philippines on top and the fans having a party at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The second half started a bit anti-climatically as Guam went on the offensive to force the Philippines to make some mistakes.

After three minutes and 25 seconds, Guam would then get a goal back through Minato who scored their first international goal in women's futsal last Saturday, October 15, 2022. Moments of uncertainty were then felt inside the stadium as the morale of the visitors turned up a notch.

However, the Pinays would continue their aggressive and high-pressing attack. At the 15:25 mark of the match, the Philippines won a free kick which was taken by Jamielyn Nañez. She went straight for the goal but since there was no touch from any opposing players, the goal was then disallowed.

Two minutes after that play, the Pinays would get another goal, this time, through Jaqueline Ballares. Jenny Perez provided the assist after a first-time pass inside the penalty zone which was met by the chest of Ballares who then volleyed it past the keeper Chyna Ramirez.

The Pinays continued to pressure the Masakåda who also matched the pacing of the home side and even broke through the defense as well. With six minutes remaining in the game, Colleen Naden got an opportunity at the top of the key but her weak-footed effort was met by a diving save from Mykaela Abeto.

Then with four minutes and 45 seconds remaining, team captain Arisa Recella found Analea Meno with acres of space but her first-time strike went wide off the right post by just a few inches.

As the game entered its final two minutes, the Pinays continued their attack and Reaso almost got her second goal after dribbling ala Lionel Messi vs Nigeria in the 2018 FIFA World Cup but her shot was met by another save from Ramirez.

She would get another chance on goal with 30 seconds remaining in the clock but her strike hit the inside of the left post. That would serve as the final attempt from the Pinays who thrilled everybody inside the Ninoy Aquino Stadium after notching their first-ever victory on the international stage.

"This is the first step. Yes, we won now but the girls know that we must continue training," said the Pinays' head coach Vic Hermans.

He also credited his team's improved performance in their second meeting against Guam to their team captain Nañez whom, he said, "Our captain played very well at the back. She controlled everything, and she knows we can do better."

Now that Philippine Futsal finally got its much-awaited spotlight, the fans also wait for what the future holds for this very promising program which would open up another pathway towards better grassroots football development in the country.