THE Philippines looks to make history when it guns for a spot in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup main draw on Sunday night when it faces Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Pune, India.
The Filipina booters take on Chinese Taipei at 7:30 p.m. (10 p.m. Philippine Standard Time) to be aired live on ONE Sports on free TV, ONE Sports+ on Cignal cable service, and Eleven Sports on livestream.
A win will propel the Philippines to its first-ever World Cup appearance in football in a fitting result to what has been an impressive campaign by the Malditas, the moniker of the team still used by its longtime supporters.
Head coach Alen Stajcic described the match as “a big moment for the sport in the Philippines.”
“For me, it’s just going to be a fantastic occasion,” said Stajcic, who is in only his first competition in charge of the Philippine team. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our country to influence the next generaion.
"And all those football fans back in the Philippines who want to see their team succeed and want to see their team get to the World Cup, it’s a unique opportunity for the country. It’s a once in a lifetime and first time potential in the history.
"To grow the game around the world, these opportunities have to happen for more and more countries.”
'It's our turn'
That the Philippines, a basketball-loving country, is on the threshold of doing that makes it more special, the coach said.
“This time, it’s our turn. It’s Chinese Taipei’s turn to try to reach the pinnacle of our sport. But no doubt, this is a big moment for the sport in the Philippines to really hit home to all the fans and all the kids out there who love the game of football,” Stajcic added.
The Philippines got this far after impressive performances against Thailand, 1-0, and Indonesia, 6-0, in the group stage. Even their 0-4 defeat against world power Australia earned them plaudits after they held the Matilda scoreless in the first half.
Focus now is on Chinese Taipei, a team that beat the Philippines, 4-2, in a 2019 Asia Olympic qualifier. The Taiwanese are also ranked 39th in the world and won over Iran, 4-0, in its only win of the group stage.
Chinese Taipei bowed to China, 5-0, in Group A.
Stajcic sees an even match between the two sides even with the Philippines ranked 64th in the world.
“They obviously made it to this level of competition so they’ve shown enough. Against China, they played a very defensive game and tried to stay compact and they were very successful for long periods.
"Against Iran, they showed the other side of their game. Really very similar to us, the game against Australia and the game against Indonesia, which were very similar. To me it’s an extremely tight contest.
"I think it real is a 50-50 match and really worthy of a quarterfinals of an Asian Cup. We come really excited as a coach and every fan for both countries and any neutral (fan) should really get up and watch it.
"It’s a game that could go either way,” Stajcic said.
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