Filipinas eye New Zealand after historic Peru victory

Veteran Katrina Guillou (21) was solid as a playmaker and stopper in central midfield. (PFF)

CHINCHA ALTA, Peru — The Philippine Women’s National Football Team will turn its attention to a proposed two-game series in New Zealand after beating Peru, 2-0, on Wednesday, another key step in its preparations for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The victory at the FPF La Videnita marked the first time the Filipinas defeated a Latin American national team and gave them valuable experience against South American opposition before their next international assignment.

“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,” head coach Mark Torcaso said of the planned New Zealand series.

Camryn Penn scored in the 20th minute for her first international goal, while Mallie Ramirez doubled the advantage in the 42nd for her fourth goal for the Philippines.

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,” PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez said.

Torcaso was also pleased with how the Filipinas controlled the match.

“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, with Ramirez heading a Katrina Guillou corner kick over the bar in the 18th minute.

Two minutes later, Penn opened the scoring in front of goal off Tolentin’s running cross from the right.

Jaclyn Sawicki’s header from a Guillou ball was saved by Peruvian goalkeeper Mia Shalit in the 30th.

Ramirez made it 2-0 in the 42nd, again finishing in front of goal following a Tolentin cross from the right.

Penn tested Shalit with a shot off another Tolentin cross in the 45th.

Torcaso singled out Tolentin for her growing influence on the national team.

“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, intended 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 then punched out Guillou’s curling inswinging corner in the 61st.

Raquel Bilcape was Peru’s most active attacker, sending a chip off target in the 65th and another attempt from outside the box wide in the 66th.

Tolentin tested substitute goalkeeper Noelia Rivarola with a powerful shot from the right in the 74th before creating another chance in the 77th.

Peru’s only shot on goal came in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, when substitute Aldana Rodriguez’s running attempt was saved by Olivia McDaniel.

The result also reversed the outcome of a closed-door tune-up between the teams at the same venue on Oct. 10.

Peru won that match, 2-1, in a game that featured extensive changes and rotations from both sides, with Bilcape scoring a brace and the Filipinas finding a late goal.

Lessons from Peru

The Peru matches form part of the Filipinas’ buildup to the World Cup in Brazil, with Torcaso saying the Philippines specifically sought a South American opponent to experience the style and conditions it could encounter in the tournament.

“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 also underscored the value of facing opponents from distant continents as the national team builds toward Brazil.

“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 Filipinas will next aim to play a two-game series in New Zealand, returning to the country where they made history during their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance.

Torcaso said the proposed matches would provide another contrasting test against a fellow World Cup-bound side.

He stressed that competition for places in the squad remains open as the Filipinas continue their World Cup preparations.

“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.

Torcaso also called on Filipino supporters to stay behind the team throughout its road to Brazil.

“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. (PFF)