It will be a test of character for the Philippine national women’s football team when it meets Thailand tomorrow night in their last elimination game in Group A of the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
With four straight wins, the Filipinas have already secured the top semifinal berth at stake in Group A in their previous matches and the showdown with the Thais will see how well they can hold out against a good squad.
The Thais will be led by Ploychompoo Somnonk, who was one of their lethal scorers as she led them to the finals and a silver-medal finish in the 31st Southeast Asian Games two months ago.
Somnong, along with two other Thai scorers Alisa Rukpinij and Tipkrita Onsamai, is expected to be among the biggest threats in the Filipinas’ bid to sweep their five-game assignment.
Last Sunday, Somnong was one of the scorers as the Thais beat Malaysia, 4-0, and secured the second semifinal berth with their 3-1-0 win-draw-loss record.
The top semis slot is now in the hands of the Filipinas following their 4-0 triumph over Malaysia last Friday, turning their encounter with Indonesia into a tuneup match on Sunday.
Their game with the Thais will allow coach Allen Stajcic to know more about the character of the team.
“For us to remain calm and composed, showing resilience is an important sign for us as a team,” said Stajcic after the Filipinas turned back Indonesia, 4-1.
Stajcic said Sarina Bolden may have scored a lot against Indonesia. But she won’t be doing things alone next time.
“In 3 or 4 matches, we had different scorers for every goal. I don’t go home and count who scored the goals. It doesn’t matter to me,” stated Stajcic.
After the Filipinas are done with their game with the Thais, they will next clash with the runner-up finisher of Group B.
Myanmar and Vietnam are unbeaten after two games in Group B, with similar 2-0-0 records.
And their last two encounters will determine their places in the semifinal stage.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Bolden said she’s eager to do more scoring for the Filipinas, with the support of her teammates.
“I couldn’t do it alone. Those were great balls that were played into me. Like what coach has been preaching: composure, composure,” said Bolden following her hat-trick in their game with Indonesia.
This will be the second time for Bolden to claim a hat trick for the nationals.
“I could have had two more, five, six, seven, but you know I’m happy with the ones I did finish and I’m just hungry for the ones I missed,” added Bolden, who plays for Chifure AS Elfen Saitama in the WE League in Japan.