By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippine women’s futsal team got off to a strong start but crumbled in the crunch to suffer a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Morocco in the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City Monday, Nov. 24.
Given the opportunity to shine, Dionesa Tolentin seized the moment, coming through with a beautiful move to make history for the Filipina5 at the 3:53 mark before Cathrine Graversen doubled the lead just over three minutes later that had a decent size of crowd erupting in sheer joy.
However, the celebration was shortl ived as the Atlas Lionesses roared back and found the net three consecutive times in a span of seven minutes to seize a 3-2 cushion which all happened before halftime.
Those strikes from Nadia Laftah (9:47), Siiham Tadlaoui (13:55), and Jasmine Demraoui (16:56) were enough to lift Morocco to its first win for a 1-0-1 card, while the Philippines settled for a 0-0-2 slate at the bottom of Group A.
Despite their tough loss, the Filipina5’s performance against the Moroccans showed promise as they displayed much better outing than their 0-6 defeat to Poland on the opening day last Friday, Nov. 21.
And history as well for Tolentin and Graversen as they became the first Filipina bets to post a goal in women’s futsal world cup history.
Those two can add more for the Philippines as well as their teammates in their final match.
That would be on Thursday, Nov. 27, at the same venue, where the world No. 63 Nationals are going for a fitting exit and an upset over No. 6 and unbeaten Argentina.
Meanwhile, the Albiceleste (2-0-0) took the top seed as they held off the Polish booters (1-0-1), 3-2, and remained perfect in the inaugural global tiff.
Coming off 6-0 rout of Morocco, the Argentinians stamped their class immediately after scoring all of their goals in the first 20 minutes, a breakaway that helped them deny the white and reds’ attempt of an equalizer.
Argentina now advanced to the quarterfinals with six points in its group, while Poland aims to follow when it battles Morocco.
