Filipinas thrash Fiji in friendlies, but bigger tests await with SEA Games looming

After the successful 2021 AFC Asian Cup in India, which saw the Philippine national women's football team make the semi-finals and subsequently qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, attention is now squarely on the next competition: the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in May.

The Filipinas are currently in a month-long training camp in Sydney, Australia, and as part of camp, they recently played two international friendly matches against Fiji, who are ranked 67th in the world.

Despite not playing any competitive matches in more than two months, the higher-ranked Filipinas came out with impressive victories against an overmatched Fiji side, winning by scores of 7-2 and 8-0.

Here are five things we learned from the Filipinas’ wins against Fiji.

1 Playing Club Football Matters.

Coming into the training camp, Coach Alen Stajcic remarked that of the 23 members of the historic Filipinas’ squad, only three members currently have club teams – Sarina Bolden (Chifure AS Elfen Saitama Japan), Quinley Quezada (JEF United Chiba Japan) and Katrina Guillou (Pitea IF Sweden).

That means that 20 members of that squad are currently unattached, and while that means that while they will be presumably readily available for tournaments of the national team, they will be missing out on consistently training on a high-level team environment.

To be physically fit is one thing, but to be match-fit and game-ready, to be sharp and quickest to react in a game situation – these small details make all the difference between a good footballer and a great one.

And the best example of this is Guillou, who starts regularly for her club in Sweden.

Showing good match sharpness and not missing a beat, she netted a superb hat-trick in the second match against Fiji, whilst giving the Fijian defenders fits with her tireless runs.

Quezada, with three goals in two games, also displayed good anticipation and form.

With Philippine women’s football on the rise, and with the recognition that comes with it, it is hoped that more doors in club football open for our Filipinas.

2 Impressive wins kick off training camp

The first match against Fiji was played in wet and rainy conditions, but the bad weather did not affect the Filipinas as they blanked Fiji 6-0 in the first half en route to a 7-2 thrashing.

Birthday girl Quinley Quezada, Anicka Castaneda and captain Tahnai Annis netted braces for the Philippines, which also saw defender Dom Randle net her first international goal for the country.

Four days later, the second match against Fiji was played in the same venue, but under much better weather conditions.

And the Filipinas did one better whilst keeping a clean sheet, thrashing an overmatched Fiji side 8-0.

Katrina Guillou grabbed the headlines with a superb hat-trick, whilst birthday girl Carleigh Frilles grabbed a brace herself in another Filipinas domination.

3 But Stajcic will want more

After the Philippines first win, Coach Alen Stajcic said:

“There were some good patches, some good moments, but we were a bit rusty in some parts.”

“We were a bit rusty on the ball as the match wore on. That’s a result of a couple of months out.”

“But we’ll be working hard to ensure we get back to the levels where we were in the Asian Cup.”

Against Fiji, the Filipinas controlled much of the possession and dominated gameplay.

But Fiji did threaten on occasion with quick counter-attacks, which exposed our defence.

And against better and more composed opposition, those chances might spell the difference between victory and defeat – something that the coaching staff will surely want to work on in the weeks ahead.

4 Old reliables continue to impress

The defensive backbone that gave the Filipinas so much stability and success in the Asian Cup is back.

Granted that Fiji did not offer too much in terms of attack, but the calming presence of Sofia Harrison, Dom Randle and Hali Long at the back, in front of Asian Cup heroine goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel will calm many nerves.

In the midfield, the composure that captain Tahnai Annis brings cannot be stressed enough. Her game smarts, her passing range and her aerial strength that belies her size are keys to the Filipinas midfield.

Surrounding her are Jessica Miclat and Ryley Bugay, both very technical players, both comfortable with the ball at their feet.

“Once you’ve earned that shirt, it’s someone else’s responsibility to take that shirt off of you,” said Alen Stajcic before the training camp.

And so far, the old guard continue to keep earning their places in the starting eleven.

5 Young ones given – and took -- chances

But that is not to say that there is a lack of challengers for spots on the field.

A very unfortunate injury to forward Chandler McDaniel is a blow to the team, but the silver lining is that it now gives an opportunity for other players to step up.

In particular, 17-year-old Isabella Flanigan has impressed with Stajcic handing her two starts in two games for the Filipinas.

In the Asian Cup in India, Malea Cesar has been given good playing time but this may be the year that she calls the right back position her own.

The 18-year-old Cesar has also been putting on a very good shift at right back, joining the attack on more than one occasion, providing the width and supplying the crosses.

A product of the Filipinas’ youth system, 20-year-old Carleigh Frilles has also put her name forward with a brace against Fiji, whilst debutante Chantelle Maniti did her chances no harm with a solid game at the back.

Overall, good job for the Filipinas, but it is important not to look too much into results, but rather on the areas on the pitch that need improving.

With all due respect, the end game of course is not to sweep Fiji by ten goals, but the coveted gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in May.

Fans might clamor for the Filipinas to continually play a lower ranked country in Rooty Hill, preferably with a birthday celebrant each time to bring in the goals.

But the truth of the matter is that sterner tests and bigger challenges await the Filipinas.

And with the right people at the helm, coupled with ample preparation time, the Philippines wait with bated breath as to what is to come.

—JMB, GMA News