National Team - Lionesses ● Jul 06, 2022
Lionesses go down to Philippines
Umairah Hamdan chases for the ball, 6 July 2022.
MANILA, 6 JULY – The Singapore Women’s National Team were handed a tough battle by hosts Philippines at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship 2022 last night, falling 7-0 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The 53rd-ranked World Cup-bound side showed off their technical prowess from the get-go and tested custodian Beatrice Tan after just two minutes.
Comprising the majority of the squad that reached the semi-finals at the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup and finished third at the recent Southeast Asian Games, Alen Stajcic’s charges dominated from start to finish.
A superb finish from Isabella Flanigan on nine minutes broke the deadlock. It was followed by a second when Singapore captain Ernie Sulastri deflected a cross into her own goal on 10 minutes. Captain Tahnai Annis added another a minute later before Sarina Bolden rose highest at a corner to comfortably head home at the 38th-minute mark.
The Lionesses tried to hold firm after the break but a goalkeeping error allowed Sara Eggesvik to make it on 47 minutes.
Still, Stephen Ng’s side continued to graft and there was some good interplay between midfielders Izzati Rosni and Farhanah Ruhaizat on the left flank, which set up Putri Syaliza for a long-range effort that went inches over the bar.
Philippines were keen to extend their lead and did so through Kaya Hawkinson’s header off a corner on 56 minutes, before Anicka Castaneda was quickest to a rebound to find the seventh goal at the 69th minute.
Post-match, Ng said: “They are a quality side, and we have to acknowledge that. This is the level we want to be at in the future.”
Singapore will next face Thailand on Friday, 8 July.
Singapore: Beatrice Tan (Noor Kusumawati Rosman 64’), Stephanie Gigette (Nurhidayu Naszri 64’), Fatin Ridzwan (Syazwani Ruzi 77’), Farhanah Ruhaizat, Dhaniyah Qasimah (Umairah Hamdan 46’), Danelle Tan, Izzati Rosni, Putri Syaliza (Irsalina Irwan 86’), Ernie Sulastri, Dorcas Chu, Venetia Lim.
Unused subs: Georgia Annette Khoo, Claire Tay, Mastura Jeilani, Nadhra Aqilah, Alyssa Deanna, Syafiqah Peer, Afiqah Omar.
