Pinay team crushes Tonga


The national women’s football team repeated over Tonga after posting a 5-0 victory in a friendly match held on Saturday, April 30 at the Valentine Sports Park Field in Sydney, Australia.

Anicka Castaneda and Eva Madarang scored two goals apiece while Carleigh Frilles also found the mark as the Filipinas defeated Tonga for the second time in seven days.

Coach Alen Stajcic’s side, however, didn’t replicate its 16-0 thrashing of Tonga last April 22 when the two sides met at the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Park.

It was the fourth win in as many matches for the national squad since arriving in Australia for a camp held as part of preparations for the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Stajcic started Frilles and Castaneda upfront, with team captain Tahnai Annis, Jacklyn Sawicki, Ryley Bugay and Camille Rodriguez at midfield.

Malea Cesar, Dom Randle, Chantelle Maniti and Madarang were tapped as defenders with goalkeeper Kiara Fontanilla tasked between the sticks.

Frilles and Castaneda gave the Filipinas a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the match, the scoreline staying until the halftime break.

Castaneda made it 3-0 before the hour mark before Madarang recorded her brace in the final 20 minutes.