Filipinas show ‘heart, courage’ in losing Women’s World Cup debut

There was a motive to really feel that the Philippine ladies’s soccer staff was in a position to conduct itself very nicely amid modest expectations in opposition to a fancied European opposition in its dream Fifa (Worldwide Affiliation Soccer Federation) Girls’s World Cup debut.

“To return to this stage and be capable to compete in opposition to gamers from Europe is miraculous,” coach Alen Stajcic stated after a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland Friday in Dunedin, New Zealand, a end result that was not a nightmare whichever means one seems to be at it.

The result got here after the Filipinas had a Katrina Guillou opening objective disallowed, a harsh penalty name by way of video assistant referee (VAR) that resulted in Ramona Bachmann’s spot kick earlier than halftime and Seraina Piubel getting the rebound after two spots by goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel which doubled the deficit.

For a staff experiencing what the largest match in ladies’s soccer is for the primary time, the scoreline is a satisfying one for the debutants, who have been anticipated on paper to obtain an intensive thrashing from everybody else in Group A.

“You noticed true spirit, true coronary heart, a staff that by no means gave up, pleased with their jersey, pleased with the flag, pleased with the folks they symbolize,” stated the Aussie-born mentor. “And I feel that’s crucial factor, you recognize, to return to the World Cup for the primary time within the historical past in males’s or ladies’s soccer and to placed on a efficiency like that and simply confirmed braveness and coronary heart is the primary and most necessary factor.”

That renewed confidence would be the factor Stajcic and firm hope to hold on Tuesday in Wellington when the Filipinas face the cohost, who opened the World Cup with a landmark 1-0 upset of Group A favourite Norway.

“I feel we’ve proven that we’re aggressive. That’s the principle factor. We performed New Zealand final yr in a pleasant they usually gained 2-1. So we all know that they’re a robust staff as nicely they usually’ve proven that in opposition to Norway,” he stated.

“We misplaced 2-1 [in that friendly] so we all know if we will enhance a little bit bit, I feel we will be aggressive in that sport,” added Stajcic.

Nullified objective

The opening half witnessed a Philippine staff that appeared unnerved with its first style of World Cup pageantry.

And it was nearly a dream begin that led to momentary pleasure from these contained in the venues and numerous extra again residence and in numerous elements of the globe as Guillou discovered sufficient house to attain a right-footed shot quarter-hour into the sport.

However the offside flag was up, which was supported by tv replays and noticed Guillou already forward of the defenders when the cross was made, nullifying what would have been a landmark second for Philippine soccer.

Stajcic provided to consider that had Guillou’s objective counted, that might have been a game-changer.

Then the deflated second near halftime when Jessika Cowart and Switzerland’s Coumba Sow have been battling for possession contained in the field. Referee Vincentia Amedome referred to as for the VAR, Fifa’s video overview system, earlier than finally asserting that Cowart fouled Sow and pointed on the spot.

“It’s simply an incident that occurs within the field, wasn’t it?” Stajcic lamented. “Each went in and, from what I noticed, the ball was simply there, it’s a contested ball and the Swiss woman slid in together with her studs up, simply swung her leg. I simply don’t know if it simply bought her or not.

“That’s only a second within the sport, there are moments like that that occurs in a sport. It simply occurs within the penalty field and it simply occurs in a essential second of the sport. It went Switzerland’s means,” he added.

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