The host nation Filipina5 of the Philippines has concluded its campaign in the 2025 FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup after suffering a loss in its last elimination round schedule against Argentina on the evening of November 27 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Early Onslaught from Argentina Decides the Match
Argentina, already assured of a quarterfinal berth before kickoff, wasted no time asserting its dominance.
The South American contenders exploded for five goals in a breathtaking opening blitz, all within the first seven minutes. Lara Villalba struck just over a minute into the match, quickly followed by Mailen Romero and Luciana Natta, who doubled and tripled the advantage. Before the Philippines could regain composure, Agostina Chiesa and Melina Quevedo punctured the defense with two more goals, locking in a commanding 5–0 cushion before the first-half midpoint.
Chiesa, who continued her scoring streak throughout the group stage, became the first player in the tournament to score in three straight matches. Her early strike contributed to Argentina setting a new milestone, scoring five goals in under seven minutes, surpassing the previous fastest recorded by Portugal.
Argentina seemed poised to widen the gap further, but the Filipina5 tightened their defensive shape. Goalkeepers Samantha Hughes and later Kayla Santiago delivered key stops that slowed the Argentinian onslaught and prevented the match from spiraling out of reach.
From there, the game’s tempo shifted, giving the home side room to show its resilience.
Isabella Bandoja’s Lone Goal Goes Into the PH Record Books
Despite the uphill battle, the Philippines refused to fold.
The second half saw a dramatically more composed and determined Filipina5, who began stringing together counterattacks and half-chances.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 28th minute when Isabella Bandoja capitalized on a breakaway, slipping the ball past Argentina’s Silvina Espinazo for the Filipinas’ only goal of the match.
The moment ignited the entire arena. Bandoja, supported by teammate Isabella Flanigan on the play, etched her name in history as the third Filipina to score in the country’s first-ever World Cup appearance.
More importantly, the goal symbolized the team’s refusal to go home quietly.
Her strike ensured the Philippines would find the back of the net in each of their final two group matches, showing their steady growth throughout the tournament.
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Filipina5 Tournament Journey Ends Winless but with Historic Moments
Despite scoring a goal, it still wasn’t enough to capture the win as Filipina5 succumbed to the Argentinians.
FINAL SCORE: ARGENTINA 5 – 1 PHILIPPINES
The Filipina5 concluded the World Cup with a 0–3 record, finishing last in Group A with a –11 goal difference.
Their first-ever campaign included a 6–0 defeat to Poland in the opener, followed by a dramatic 3–2 loss to Morocco, a match where they went up 2–0 behind goals from Dionesa Tolentin and Cathrine Graversen before the Moroccans mounted a comeback.
Despite the defeat, the home crowd of 2,811 remained firmly behind the national squad, cheering every defensive stand and celebrating the lone goal that prevented a shutout.
“I’ve got goosebumps. The support was absolutely amazing. Argentina are one of the best teams in the world. We fought with everything we had. I think our performance was very, very, very, very good. I’m really, really happy,” said Bandoja, who was visibly emotional after the match.
Still, the tournament produced meaningful breakthroughs for the program. Tolentin’s and Graversen’s goals marked the country’s first in World Cup futsal history, while Bandoja’s strike added a bright ending to a challenging run.
The hosts displayed grit and heart throughout the group stage, particularly in the second halves, where they consistently steadied themselves and competed bravely against elite opposition.
Argentina winger Chiesa acknowledged the Philippines’ spirited pushback, saying,
“We built a good lead in the first half and managed to maintain it. I actually liked our play in the second half more than in the first, but it’s true that we weren’t clinical. Winning every match was important, so I’m happy.”
Morocco Upsets Poland to Claim Last Quarterfinal Seat
Earlier that day, Morocco delivered one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by edging out world no. 14 Poland, 1–0, to seal the final Group A ticket to the knockout stage.
With both teams locked in a tight defensive battle, the breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Jasmine Demraoui punished a Polish turnover and netted the winning goal, her second decisive strike in two straight matches after scoring the winner against the Philippines.
Despite late attempts from Poland’s key attackers, Morocco held strong defensively to secure the upset.
The result allowed Morocco to finish second in Group A with six points, behind undefeated Argentina, which topped the group with nine. Poland ended third with three points, while the Philippines settled at fourth.
Argentina and Morocco Advances, Filipina5 Look to the Future
With the group stage complete, Argentina and Morocco advance to Monday’s quarterfinals, where they will face Group B qualifiers.
For the Philippines, the conclusion of their World Cup campaign marks only the beginning of a broader effort to develop women’s futsal in the country.
Their next assignment will be the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, where they hope to build on the experience gained from facing some of the world’s best teams.
While the results may not have gone their way, the Filipina5 leave the World Cup having captured the admiration of fans nationwide as they have demonstrated heart, fight, and the promise of greater strides ahead.
