UAE tests Filipinas mettle

The Philippine national women’s football team returns to the pitch as it goes up against the United Arab Emirates in a friendly match at the UAE Football Association headquarters on Friday.

Kick-off will be at 11:30 p.m. (Manila time) as the Filipinas begin the first of the two goodwill games against the Emiratis.

This will be the Philippines’ first international match since its 1-4 loss against Kenya last October at the Pink Ladies Cup in Turkey.

Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said with this being their first international match, they are excited to do their first match of the year.

Entering this scrap, the Filipinas won’t have veterans Sarina Bolden, Jaclyn Sawicki and Quinley Quezada due to injuries.

“A little bit of fun, but also just a preparation for our two games here. So it’s exciting to be here and all the girls are very excited to be here,” Torcaso said.

“So we are, we are looking forward to the two games that we have to play today.”

The Filipinas started their preparations for 2025 last February with a nine-day training camp at the Mall of Asia Football Pitch.

First, the Filipinas are gunning for back-to-back titles in the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup on a date yet to be announced in Indonesia.

Then, the Filipinas will be competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers from 23 June to 5 July.

UAE won’t be pushovers as it came off a 3-1 win over Bangladesh last 3 March at the Theyab Awana Stadium in Dubai.

The Philippines is using these friendly matches to prepare for two major competitions in June.

Strikers Katrina Guillou and Chandler McDaniel are expected to score more as they face the world No. 73 UAE.

Midfielders Sara Eggesvik, Saea Castañeda and Alexa Pino will facilitate the Filipinas’ offense.

Defenders Hali Long, Angela Beard, Sofia Harrison-Wunch, and Madison Ayson will be relied on to fortify the Philippines’ defense with goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.