SEA Games: Filipinas take early lead in Group A with 5-0 rout of Cambodia

Cam Pha City, Vietnam — The Philippine national women’s football team opened its Hanoi Southeast Asian Games campaign with a resounding 5-0 victory against an overmatched Cambodia side in Cam Pha City, Vietnam.

Despite dominating most of the possession against an unranked Cambodia side, the Filipinas only led by a goal from Isabella Flanigan at the halftime break.

But Tahnai Annis came on in the second half and it was no coincidence that the Filipinas’ play got quicker and more incisive, leading to four second half goals for the Philippines.

After missing the Australia training camp, Sarina Bolden is back with the team and capped off an energetic evening with a goal off the bench in the 64^th minute.

Playing higher up front, Eva Madarang atoned for two earlier missed chances with a goal in the 68^th minute, before Quinley Quezada and substitute Anicka Castaneda added a goal apiece for a five-goal rout.

Here are three things we learned as the Filipinas took the early lead in Group A.

1 Philippine football teams set the tone

One day after the Men's SEA Games contingent earned a hard-earned point against hosts Vietnam, the Filipinas set the tone early to eke out a good opening match day win.

The Filipinas setup a successful training camp for five weeks in Australia, and it showed as early as the pregame rondo, with the Filipinas crisp passing for all to see.

However, the long travel time took from Sydney to Cam Pha took a toll on the Filipinas, who needed perhaps a good half of football to find the football legs after the long plane and bus journey.

Regardless, it was a good opening day victory for the Filipinas, who hope to sew up the semifinals slot in a mouth-watering clash against hosts and defending champions Vietnam on Wednesday.

2 Alen Stajcic will be happy, but demands improvement

All things considered, Coach Alen Stajcic will be reasonably satisfied happy with a five-goal victory and a clean sheet, against a team that chose to defend deep and narrow and hardly threatened the whole game.

But he asks his team to do more.

“Probably wasn’t our best performance, but considering the long travel day the other day, the long 20 hours to get here, it’s very tough,” said Stajcic.

“And in these conditions, it’s very hot and humid so it’s not easy to get your legs. And in the second half when we found our legs and found our energy, we were definitely more effective.”

“(There’s) a lot of room for improvement.”

Four goals from set pieces, including one resulting from a free kick, show that the Filipinas are capable of scoring not just from open play.

But against a well-rested Vietnam side, the Filipinas have to be more clinical in taking our chances if they harbor any ambition of beating the defending champions – and fellow debutantes to the FIFA Women’s World Cup - on their home soil.

3 Vietnam awaits

A total of 5,120 fans made their way to Cam Pha Stadium in beautiful Quang Ninh province to watch the Filipinas play Cambodia, and among the very interested onlookers in attendance were the Vietnamese National Women’s Football Team.

They would have been impressed by the way Annis inspired a second half salvo as well as the way Sofia Harrison carved out chance after chance in the left wing.

By resting some key players, notably goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, and keeping some players on the bench, was Stajcic keeping his cards close to his chest?

Coach Alen says, “Ultimately, there are no more secrets in football.”

“With video analysis and scouting and things like that, we’ve got nothing to hide and we’ve watched them play lots of times and I’ve got a lot of respect for the way they have improved over the last three/four years.”

“They’ve improved significantly and probably have become the best team in Southeast Asia now.”

“We’ve got a lot of respect for them but we’re an improving nation and we’re an emerging nation... And we’re definitely going to give them a good fight come Wednesday.”

The predominantly Vietnamese crowd showed the Filipinas a glimpse of what is to come on Wednesday, as they lustily cheered every Cambodia offensive foray, however rare that was.

Come Wednesday, the Filipinas should expect and be prepared to see a sea of red in the stadium cheering on Vietnam, and be ready to quiet them down.

The Philippines plays its second and final Group A match against Vietnam on May 11, Wednesday at 7 p.m. local time.

—JMB, GMA News