CHINCHA ALTA – The Philippine Women’s National Football Team had a hot start to beat Peru, 2-0, in an international friendly at the FPF La Videnita here, as part of the team’s preparation for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Camryn Penn scored in the 20th minute for her first international goal, and Mallie Ramirez doubled the lead in the 42nd for her fourth. Dionesa Tolentin set up both goals with aggressive crosses from the right.
The Filipinas created chances early. Ramirez headed a Katrina Guillou corner kick over the bar in the 18th minute. Two minutes later, Penn scored in front of goal off Tolentin’s running cross from the right.
Midfielder Camryn Penn (20) celebrates her maiden goal for the Filipinas. She and Skye Leach (right) debuted in the recently-concluded 20th Asian Games in Japan.
Jaclyn Sawicki’s header from a Guillou ball was saved by Peruvian goalkeeper Mia Shalit in the 30th. In the 42nd, Ramirez scored in front of goal, again off a Tolentin cross from the right. Penn tested Shalit with a shot off another Tolentin cross in the 45th.
Skye Leach’s cross inside the six-yard box, meant for Tolentin, was caught by Shalit at the start of the second half. Center back Jessika Cowart’s strike from the left side of the box was parried by Shalit and hit the crossbar in the 56th. Shalit punched out Guillou’s curling inswinging corner in the 61st.
Veteran Katrina Guillou (21) was solid as a playmaker and stopper at central midfield.
Raquel Bilcape, who sent a chip off target in the 65th and an outside shot wide in the 66th, was the home side’s most active attacker. Tolentin tested substitute goalkeeper Noelia Rivarola with a power shot from the right in the 74th and another chance in the 77th. Peru’s only shot on goal came in the 90+3rd minute, when late sub Aldana Rodriguez’s running shot was saved by Olivia McDaniel.
Inday Tolentin (middle) is embraced by second goal scorer Mallie Ramirez (left) and team captain Hali Long (right). The Zamboanga del Norte native showed Latin America the quality of Philippine homegrown talents, issuing two assists from aggressive runs on the right wing.
A tune-up game before this friendly was held in the same venue on October 10, with Peru winning with a late goal, 2-1, courtesy of brace scorer Bilcape.
The Peru games are part of the Filipinas’ build-up to the World Cup in Brazil. According to Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso, the Philippines chose Peru as a South American opponent to prepare for the style and conditions the team may face in Brazil.
