The first 11 of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT). | Photo from the PWNFT Facebook page
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT) or the Filipinas finished their back-to-back international friendly with South Korea with a valiant 1-2 outcome on Monday evening, April 8, at the Icheon Stadium in South Korea.
Compared to their 0-3 outing last April 5, the Filipinas adjusted very well from their match the previous evening against the South Koreans, FIFA-ranked No. 20.
READ: South Korea beats Filipinas, 3-0, in international friendly
This was after one of the Filipinas’ defenders, Angela Beard, scored a 74th-minute goal.
Beard saved the Filipinas from being blanked by the South Koreans in back-to-back matches after converting a free kick. Her volley was high enough to catch South Korea’s goalkeeper off guard, slipping the ball to the top right corner.
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Still, the host squad was relentless throughout the match.
The South Koreans pounced on the FIFA-ranked No. 39 Filipinas with 30 shots, 10 of which were on target. It was a stark contrast to the Filipinas’ three shots with two on target.
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Incredibly, the South Koreans scored their two goals in a very similar fashion. Choo Hyo-Joo scored the first goal in the 31st minute with a right-footed strike a few inches inside the goal box from a right-wing pass.
In the 33rd minute, Choe Yu-Ri scored their second goal with the same play after receiving an accurate pass from the right wing.
The back-to-back international friendly with Korea came after their first international stint in the Pinatar Cup in Spain, where they faced Finland, Scotland, and Slovenia.