Gritty RP U19 Women’s Football team comes up just short vs Chinese Taipei
The plucky Filipinas were beaten, but not bowed.
The Philippines will just miss out on qualifying for the Asian Football Confederation U19 Women's Championship in December after dropping their last qualifying match to Chinese Taipei, 1-0 on Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Pan Yen-Hsin's goal in the 36th minute was the only score of the game. She spotted Philippines netminder Inna Palacios off her line and from the edge of the penalty area chipped the ball over the keeper's head and into the net.
The goal spoiled an otherwise sensational day for Palacios, who made six saves throughout the match. Palacios is the DLSU keeper and the starting goalkeeper of the Malditas as well.
Chinese Taipei will progress to AFC U19 Women's Championship in December along with Myanmar, who had earlier defeated the Philippines 4-0.
The Filipinas had previously beaten Hong Kong 2-0 in the first play date of Group C last week.
The Philippines started the game well, with a pair of free kicks on target by defender Regine Metillo, who hails from Bago City and also plays UAAP ball for DLSU. Both attempts were saved by Taipei keeper Pan Ting Yi.
The visitors then seized the initiative with chances from Ting Chi and their outstanding left winger Chen Yi-Peng.
In the 30th minute Chinese Taipei almost went ahead but UST booter Pearl Aguilar cleared the ball off the line to keep the score at 0-0.
The Philippines nearly took the lead when Cristina de los Reyes fed Camille Rodriguez a great pass but the goalie came out bravely to snuff out the attack.
After Chinese Taipei went ahead through Pan's strike, they pressed for a second goal, but twice Lai Wei Ju was frustrated by Palacios.
In the second half Chinese Taipei sat back on defense, which made life difficult for the home side.
Aguilar had a go in the 54th with a looping ball but goalkeeper Pan gathered it.
Nine minutes later midfielder Sara Castaneda tried her luck from distance but her one-hopper was controlled by the keeper.
With nine minutes to go Metillo reeled off another free kick attempt but it was just wide and high.
The Philippine's coaching staff displayed a lack of situational awareness in injury time.
With the team needing two goals to make it to the next round, the Pinays had back-to-back corner kicks. The visitors put all eleven players into the box to protect their lead, and yet the Philippines had five field players far from the box, three near the center circle, defending air.
None of the players tried to enter the box, and neither did the coaching staff appear to exhort them to, unlike many in the crowd who loudly begged them to surge forward.
Needless to say, the Filipinas in the box were unable to create a chance since they were outnumbered 5 to 11.
The referee blew the whistle a few minutes later, sending Taipei into the next round, and reducing some of the Filipinas to tears.
But the crowd of several hundred at Rizal Memorial nonetheless gave the girls a warm ovation.
Striker Cristina de los Reyes, the UAAP Women's Rookie of the year from U.P., impressed many with her composure on the ball and incisive passing. De los Reyes scored one of the goals against Hong Kong along with Jean Bridgette Kadil, who scored from 30 yards out.
"We put it all out there on the line," said de los Reyes.
OTHER NOTES: Azkal Jason De Jong watched the game along with his girlfriend, Maldita Heather Cooke.... All four match officials were female, and the fourth official, Shiva Yari from Iran, wore a neck scarf along with her referee uniform.... Many of these ladies will see action in the UAAP, which kicks off in December this season.... Palacios had a great game with the gloves and her feet. Her goal kicks regularly reached the center circle.... The pitch at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium has matured and holds up to wear and tear very well. It was in great shape in spite of the fact that it was worn hard during the Peace Cup and this event. PFF President Nonong Araneta was at the game and he said that Ike Madamba, the gentleman who helps maintain the field, will be sent to Barotac Nuevo to help rehabilitate the plaza field their which has been run down for a while and which was recently badly affected by a Motocross event.
You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333. To see more pics from the game click on https://www.facebook.com/goal.PH.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.
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