To begin their campaign in the inaugural 2025 FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup, the Filipina5 of the Philippines were easily defeated by Poland on the evening of November 21 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Bright Start but Missed Chances
The Philippines entered the match with confidence, buoyed by more than two thousand fans inside the arena.
The hosts nearly stunned the Poles inside the first four minutes when Inday Tolentin released a left-footed drive that cannoned off the post. A few possessions later, Dionesa Tolentin had another close call, giving the home side early momentum and raising hopes of an upset.
But that early spark quickly met the reality of Poland’s speed and clinical finishing. The visitors broke through in the sixth minute when Julia Basta fired in the tournament’s first goal for Poland, catching goalkeeper Samantha Hughes mid-transition.
From that point onward, the Polish side established its rhythm, preventing the Filipinas from carving out any clean opportunities until late in the match.
Poland Pulls Away Before Halftime
The Philippines tried to maintain composure on defense, with captain Bella Flanigan and her co-leaders focusing on staying compact while managing transitions. However, Poland’s relentless pressure paid off again before the break.
Natalia Matuszewska, who had earlier been handed a yellow card, slipped in a close-range finish in the 18th minute to stretch the lead to 2–0. The Filipina5 attempted to respond on the counter, but Poland’s compact defensive wall repeatedly shut down their advances.
Second-Half Surge Buries the Hosts
The Filipinas emerged from halftime aiming to pull one back, and Flanigan even produced a half-chance early in the second period.
But Poland’s technical superiority showed once more. In the 23rd minute, Julia Szostak unleashed a long-range strike to make it 3–0. Seconds later, Basta completed her brace with a quick finish for a commanding 4–0 cushion.
Just when the hosts attempted to settle, misfortune struck. In the 27th minute, Lanie Ortillo unintentionally redirected the ball into her own net after a deflection, pushing the scoreline to 5–0. Poland capped off its six-goal haul in the 30th minute when Klaudia Dymińska finished off a well-coordinated set piece.
The visitors continued generating chances that nearly produced a seventh goal, but Hughes and the Philippine defense held on until the final whistle.
Still, the Filipina5 never managed a clear chance after their early opportunities, ultimately absorbing a difficult opening-night defeat.
FINAL SCORE: PHILIPPINES 0 – 6 POLAND
Tournament Picture and Other Results
Poland’s victory placed them alongside Argentina at the top of Group A after the South American powerhouse produced an identical 6–0 scoreline earlier in the day against Morocco.
Ana Ontiveros made tournament history by netting the first-ever goal of the inaugural competition, setting the tone for Argentina’s dominant showing.
Argentina continued to overwhelm their opponents with four first-half goals, including strikes from Chiesa Agostina, Mailen Romero, and Luciana Natta. Lara Villalba and Julia Dupuy added two more in the second half to finalize the 6–0 rout.
Midfielder Nava earned recognition as the outstanding player of the match with one goal and two assists.
The group now sees Poland and Argentina sharing the lead, while Morocco and the Philippines sit third and fourth, respectively.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was in attendance during the Filipina5’s debut, witnessing the historic launch of the women’s global futsal competition.
Next Assignment: A Must Win Against Morocco
The Filipina5 now shift their focus to their second group-stage match, where they aim to rebound against Morocco on Monday, November 24, at the same venue.
With only 2 remaining games, the game against the
Poland, meanwhile, is set for a marquee encounter with world No. 6 Argentina as both sides battle for control of Group A.
Despite the rough debut, the Philippine squad remains determined to grow from the performance and pursue a breakthrough win as the tournament continues.
