The Philippine women's futsal team (Courtesy of Futsal Philippines Facebook)
MANILA – The Philippine women's futsal team avenged its close defeat to Guam with a 3-1 win in their Sunday night rematch at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Hannah Muros, the granddaughter of athletics legend Elma Muros-Posadas, struck the opening goal for the Pinay5 side barely four minutes into the match, becoming the first national futsal player to score after a long while.
"Noong unang pasok sa akin, kinakabahan pa po ako noon, pero noong naka-goal ako, sobrang nakakatuwa kasi na-achieve namin 'yung kagustuhan ni coach Vic [Hermans] para sa amin at nakatulong 'yun para makadagdag sila ng (When they first sent into the match, I was nervous, but when I scored the goal, I was really happy because we achieved what Coach Vic wanted from us and it helped motivate my teammates to score more) goals," said the 18-year-old Cainta native, who has committed to the University of the Philippines women's football squad.
Aurea Reaso doubled the lead for Pinay5 with a goal off a corner kick with only 25.4 seconds left before halftime.
Koharu Minato, the only goal scorer in their first meeting the night before, struck one back for Guam early into the restart, but Jacqueline Ballares delivered what would be the dagger goal for the Pinay5 at the 13:10 mark of the second half.
The Pinay5 squad could have stretched the lead further, but they failed to convert on a bunch of chances, including two shots that only hit the goal post and a Jamielyn Nanez set piece goal that was nullified as she was supposed to take an indirect free kick.
The win gave the Pinay5 a morale booster as the team takes an early Christmas break with Hermans returning to Holland to bond with his family.
The Pinay5 is expected to swing back to action right after New Year's Day. (PNA)
