POLAND handed the Philippines a 6-0 beating at home on opening night of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Philsports Arena on Friday.
The Filipina5 had a promising start, getting the first crack at goal when Inday Tolentin’s shot hit the left post four minutes into a match played before a good-sized Filipino crowd.
But Poland eventually showed why it's the No. 14-ranked team in the world, with Julia Basta scoring the first of her two goals in the seventh minute.
Poland never gave the Philippines another clear shot at goal.
On Monday, the Philippines will next face fellow opening day loser Morocco, which was defeated by Argentina, 6-0.
The Filipina5 were only down, 2-0, at halftime after a 19th-minute goal by Natalia Matuszewska, but an onslaught of goals from Julia Szostak and Basta in the 23rd and 24th put the match out of reach.
Filipina5 stays positive
An own goal by Lanie Ortillo in the 26th and a goal by Klaudia Dyminska in the 30th settled the final score.
“I don’t see this as a loss,” said Filipina5 coach Rafa Merino in Spanish. “I think we really played a good game even for the entire 40 minutes. Poland is a good team. I’m happy with how they competed.”
Merino said a goal in at least one of the hosts' early scoring chances could have changed the complexion of the match.
“If one of those chances in the beginning, we scored, it would have changed the game a little bit. It would have gave the team more energy,” said Merino.
Tolentin, a 2024 UAAP MVP with Far Eastern University, rued the missed chance.
“Siguro hindi ko pa po time na maka-score. Pero next game, pag-iigihan ko pa kasi ang goal ko makatulong sa team. Kahit hindi ako maka-goal pero may maka-goal man sa mga kasama ko, panalo na rin po ‘yun para sa akin,” said Tolentin, who plays for Kaya FC-Iloilo in the PFF Women’s League.
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