Isabella Flanigan of the Philippines in action against Poland in the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup, November 21, 2025 at the PhilSports Arena. Photo courtesy of the PFF
MANILA -- The Philippine women's national futsal team is not dwelling on the tough result of their first game in the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup.
The Filipina5 absorbed a 6-0 beating at the hands of higher-ranked Poland to open their campaign in Group A at the PhilSports Arena on Friday night.
But the team is confident that they can do better when they return to action on Monday against Morocco, which also lost its opener, 6-0, to Argentina.
"I know going into the next match, we're going to take everything from this game, learn from it, but then put it behind us. That is not wearing us down for the next," said co-skipper Isabella Flanigan.
READ: Filipina5 fall to Poland in FIFA Futsal World Cup campaign opener
With over 2,200 home supporters led by Mayor Vico Sotto of host city Pasig, Chairman Patrick Gregorio of the Philippine Sports Commission and president John Gutierrez of the Philippine Football Federation, the Filipina5 kept it close in the first 20 minutes of play and faced a manageable 0-2 deficit.
But then the 14th-ranked Polish poured it on against the No. 63 hosts, with Julia Szostak opening second-half scoring in the 23rd, Julia Basta completing her brace in the 24th, Pinay Lanie Ortillo adding one to Poland's score on an own goal and Klaudia Dyminska wrapping it up in the 30th.
"Alam ko hindi hindi po ito yung resulta na gusto namin pero proud po ako sa ginawa ng team namin at lumaban po kami hanggang dulo," said co-skipper Inday Tolentin.
"Ito 'yung lesson namin kung paano kami mag-step up sa next game."
Tolentin nearly put the home side on the board first but her clear shot at the fifth minute hit the post.
"Siguro hindi pa po time na maka-score pero next game pag-iigihan ko pa," she said.
"I think if we had converted some of those (early) chances, the game would have changed a little bit more in our favor because it would give us a little more fuel and I think we would have made Poland doubt," said Philippine coach Rafa Merino.