BAKU – The Philippine Under-15 Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT U15) notched their third straight win in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, beating Macau, 2-0, on Wednesday to start the classification stage Tier D round of 32 at the Hovsan Competition Complex.
The Philippines dominated offensively, dominating possession and mounting numerous attacks to the Macau goal.
Ultimately, two goals to end each half were scored by Dan Emmanuel Becera and Nathan Caligdong.
Becera of the Cavite Regional Football Association had a feathery touch on his receive of Negros Occidental defender Frank Jonal Oliverio’s long ball on scored on the second touch in front of the goal in the 20th minute.
Cavite RFA’s Dan Becera (#9) was fine in front, scoring the opening goal at the end of the first half.
Before that, the Macau goalkeeper saved five shots on goal by Sylar Alcantara, Quito Pascual, Oliverio, John Carlo Rendon, and Micah Alva.
The Philippines had the chance to double the lead in the 28th minute after Alva got fouled inside the penalty box, but his subsequent pen hit the right goalpost.
Thereafter, Becera and Alcantara had two shots on goal each, all saved by the Macau keeper.
The final nail in Macau’s coffin came from Caligdong, who poached near the goal, gathering Rendon’s miss from deep off the gloves of the Macau keeper to end the game on a scoring note at the whistle.
The name at the back of his kit speaks volumes as Iloilo-Guimaras RFA’s Nathan Caligdong (#6) scored the dagger at the whistle for his third World Cup goal.
The Iloilo-Guimaras RFA protege has scored his third goal in the World Cup, leading the Philippines in scoring.
“Our goal is to play positive, attacking football, create more scoring opportunities, and put our opponents under pressure while remaining organized, disciplined, and difficult to beat,” PMNFT U15 head coach Roxy Dorlas told pff.org.ph before the game.
Given the lack of familiarity against the previous opponents, Dorlas said that the team “focused mainly on improving our own game and matching the intensity of our opponents.”
PMNFT U15 will next face Tajikistan in the Tier D round of 16 tonight at 10 PM (Philippine time).
