The Philippine Women’s National Football Team earned a draw in their tune-up match against Uzbekistan on the evening of October 29 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
A Disastrous 2nd Half for the Filipinas
The PWNFT was playing in their home court when they struck the visitors lightning fast in the 1st half.
It took less than two minutes for Chandler McDaniel to break the deadlock, finishing off a well-timed assist from Meryll Serrano to give the home side a 1–0 lead before the crowd of over 3,000 fans.
Rattled by the early goal, Uzbekistan began controlling possession and pressing high, forcing the Filipinas’ defense to stay sharp. Skipper Hali Long and goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel anchored the backline, holding off the visitors’ advances to maintain the narrow advantage through halftime.
HALFTIME: PHILIPPINES 1 – 0 UZBEKISTAN
After the break, the Filipinas struck again to double their cushion.
In the 56th minute, Sofia Wunsch capitalized on a defensive miscue by Uzbekistan and slipped the ball to Serrano, who fired a low, powerful shot past the keeper to make it 2–0.
At that point, the Filipinas appeared to be in full command of the friendly, showcasing crisp passing and organized defending as they sought to close out the win.
The tide began to shift midway through the second half when Uzbekistan earned a free kick in the 67th minute. Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva took full advantage, unleashing a long-range strike that caught Olivia McDaniel off guard and cut the lead to 2–1.
Buoyed by the momentum, the visitors intensified their attack, putting the Filipinas under heavy pressure.
Their persistence paid off again in the 81st minute, when another defensive lapse from the Philippines allowed Khabibullaeva to slot in her second goal of the night, leveling the match at 2–2 and silencing what had been an energetic Manila crowd.
Late Game Tension
As the game entered its final stretch, both sides pushed hard for a winner amid mounting tension.
Several yellow cards were issued late in the contest as the intensity rose, but neither team managed to find the breakthrough before the final whistle.
When the dust settled, the Filipinas were left frustrated after surrendering a two-goal lead, while the Uzbeks celebrated salvaging a hard-earned draw on foreign soil.
FINAL SCORE: PHILIPPINES 2 – 2 UZBEKISTAN
Looking Forward to the SEA Games and AFC Women’s Asia Cup
This tune-up game serves as a key preparation for the PWNFT in their upcoming campaign at the Southeast Asian Games at Thailand on December 9 to 20.
The world-ranked No. 39 Philippines will also participate in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, which will be from March 1 to 21.
For Philippine Head Coach Marc Torcaso and his players, the draw offered both encouragement and lessons, which is a reminder of the team’s potential, as well as the importance of maintaining focus until the final whistle.
