IT was a classic case of one step backwards, two steps forward for the Filipinas during their quarterfinal match against Japan in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
Head coach Mark Torcaso opted to rest most of his starters including goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel last Sunday against Japan with the Filipinas already looking forward to the playoff match against Uzbekistan for a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
While he still wanted a win against the Nadeshiko side, Torcaso said the team opted to be smart about their situation when they played against another powerhouse team in Japan during the quarterfinals.
READ: Filipinas bound for play-in after loss to Japan in Asian Cup q'finals
The Filipinas eventually lost, 7-0, after nearly ending the first half in a scoreless tie.
“Obviously, we don’t want to lose any game but we also have to understand that we are playing against probably one of the best teams in the world,” Torcaso said.
“We gave two first starts to two players who were outstanding for the game. Nina Meollo and Jourdyn Curran played their first game for the national team and started. I thought they were outstanding and that is a really pleasing thing for me as a coach. We also had three young players playing in that first half that were also outstanding."
“While the score isn’t what we want, we have to focus on the next game which allows us to go to the World Cup still,” he continued.
"That is the big focus for us. We knew that this game (against Japan) would either get us to the World Cup directly, or if we lost, we would have to focus on the next game.
“The great thing is that we have a second chance here and the girls, we are also extremely determined to make sure that we go to that World Cup. While it was disappointing that we lost that game, we are also very positive and determined to make sure that we go to another World Cup.”
The Filipinas' match against Uzbekistan is the second of three chances to clinch a return trip to the Women's World Cup after its maiden run in 2023.
The last chance to make it to Brazil will be an inter-confederation match for the losing squad.
Torcaso noted that he needs to rest the players as it has travelled from Perth to Brisbane/Gold Coast to Sydney during the entire tournament. The Uzbekistan match on Thursday will be back in Gold Coast.
“We have to look at the travel that our girls have had since Day One,” Torcaso said. “We started in Perth, we travelled four hours to Brisbane, we had to turn around around five hours in sleep, played two games there (Gold Coast), and then we travel (in Sydney) to play against probably the best team in the competition.”
The Philippines has now played against Australia, South Korea, and Japan in the Asia Cup, three of the semifinalists from the 2022 edition, and Torcaso said that could prove beneficial for the squad ahead of the Uzbekistan match.
“It is not publicized enough that the Philippines has played the best three teams in Asia, I believe. We have done a damn good job at doing that and I think now, we are in a position where we have set ourselves up because of that first game against probably one of the favorites to win this Asian Cup. We have set ourselves up in a position where we can qualify," he said.
“It definitely takes a toll on the players because they have to work extremely hard defensively against these three teams. But now, we have got a really good focus on what we need to do against Uzbekistan. As I said, we have been able to rest a few players because they have been tired in the last couple of games. I know we have got a lot of fresh players coming into this next game against Uzbekistan."
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