Match winner Camille Wilson credited the chemistry and character of the national women’s football team during its 2-1 comeback victory over Nepal that put the Philippines closer to a spot in next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Wilson’s stoppage time goal enabled the Pinay booters to rally from a goal down and beat Nepal last Sept. 18 in the start of their Group F campaign in the Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The substitute goalscorer who made her first international appearance since 2016 likened how the squad has grown since training in California while meshing immediately with other teammates who couldn’t make the camp once they converge in Uzbekistan.
“I think this was really a strange year to have because we have a team back in California and we have some of the local-based players who are back in the Philippines due to COVID. Unfortunately, they couldn’t come out to California,” said Wilson.
“But I think our team chemistry has definitely grown over the past month in California. And then once we met with the local-based players here in Uzbekistan and I think that has slowly grown too.
“And I think our team chemistry has been important in terms of how we played on the field, and it really shows. You can see it in our game against Nepal. Our character, our hard work, our determination really showed in that game,” she added.
The result turned out to be a very important one for the Philippines after Nepal and Hong Kong battled to a scoreless draw Tuesday, Sept. 21 at Jar Stadium.
A draw against Hong Kong on Friday, Sept. 24 will make the Filipinas the group winner.