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.
The win marks a milestone for the Filipinas for having defeated a Latin American national team for the first time.
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 “Inday” Tolentin set up both goals with aggressive crosses from the right.
“This was a good result against a good South American opponent, and a useful step in our preparation for Brazil. We are grateful to the players and the coaching staff for the work they put in, including the long journey to Peru. We congratulate Camryn on her first goal for the national team, Mallie for adding another goal to her tally, and Inday for showing the quality of our homegrown athletes,” said PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez.
Head coach Mark Torcaso was pleased with the performance. “The performance today was clinical and clean. We defended well, then we took our chances at the key moments. We stayed disciplined, connected and consistent. This was pleasing for us,” he said.
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.
Torcaso singled out Tolentin. “Inday has really grown into this national team. She works very hard and is now becoming very familiar with how we want to play. Her effort and the love she has for the game is something special to see. She still needs to work on some areas, but she provided two great assists for our goals today, and I am very happy for her,” he said.
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 closed-door tune-up game before this friendly was held at the same venue on October 10, 2-1 in favor of Peru, with a late goal and a brace from Bilcape. In that game, both sides made many changes and rotations.
Lessons from Peru
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.
The Peru games are part of the Filipinas’ build-up to the World Cup in Brazil. According to Torcaso, the Philippines chose Peru as a South American opponent to prepare for the style and conditions the team may face in Brazil.
“We come away from Peru learning that the style of play in South America can be very unpredictable, but also the individual brilliance some of these players have is top level,” Torcaso said. “The travel, the hospitality and the conditions were the key parts of our learning here. Peru [is] a tough team, they are unbeaten in their last six matches against good opponents, this is why we selected them, as we know they are a tough team.”
Gutierrez underscored the importance of playing opponents from distant continents, saying:
Matches like this help us prepare for the demands of a World Cup. We want to face different styles and different conditions, and Peru gave us that. We will keep working, game by game, toward Brazil.
Next stop: New Zealand
The team will next aim to play a two-game series in New Zealand. “This is a place in which we created history a few years ago. It will be great for us to go and test ourselves against another team going to the World Cup, but with a strong team in many different ways compared to Peru. This will be another great challenge,” Torcaso said.
He said players still have a chance to earn a place. “We continue to monitor players in camp and out of camp. Just because you miss a window or aren’t called up it doesn’t mean you will miss out. We need to keep improving as a team and continue to believe in ourselves,” Torcaso said.
“Continue to support our girls. As we build to the World Cup we need your positive support and encouragement. We will do well and make our country proud if we stick by these players. We want to create a new piece of history together with our fans. Thank you for watching up in those early hours, we always know you are there,” Torcaso concluded.
