The Philippine national women's football team's first-half goals were enough to secure a 4-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates in a friendly game early Saturday (Manila time) at the UAE Football Association Headquarters in Dubai.
Striker Chandler McDaniel led the scoring barrage with a brace in the 19th and 33rd minutes of the match as the Filipinas played without veterans Sarina Bolden Jaclyn Sawicki, and Quinley Quezada due to injuries.
Team captain Hali Long and Meryll Serrano, who scored in the ninth and 31st minutes, respectively, joined in on the scoring as the Philippines won its first match of 2025.
The Emitatis only scored one goal in the 89th minute.
“This was our first official international match of the year, so it was important for us to score goals, but also to build the playing style," Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said.
"All four of our goals were scored with the way we want to play, so now it’s about building that into the next game, the next window, and then the Asian Cup Qualifiers.”
Both squads will face again on Tuesday, 8 April, at the same venue.