Cathrine Graversen said the Filipina5 will have to build on the positives from the close Morocco game before taking on Argentina in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025.
Cathrine Graversen found herself all alone on the right flank, with all the space and time in the world to launch a fireball to the goal post Monday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The ball sailed past the right hand of Morocco goalkeeper Kawtar Bentales and kissed the net as the Filipina5 built an early 2-nil lead to the delight of the home crowd.
But celebration turned into disappointment in the end as the host team ceded a 2-3 loss to Morocco in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025, dropping to 0-2 in the tournament.
But while the Filipina5 are now out of contention with the loss, Graversen had reasons to stay upbeat even in defeat.
“Personally it was my first goal. That was an accomplishment in itself. I was very excited about it,” said the Filipina5 defender.
Apart from that, the 27-year-old found solace in the fact her team fought tooth-and-nail against a team 42 notches higher in world rankings at no. 31 from start to finish.
“We were fighting to the last minute. We had a lot of opportunities, unfortunately we didn’t score but at least we were fighting and giving it our all to the very end,” she said.
Graversen wasn’t wrong.
After Inday Tolentin opened up the scoring almost four minutes into the match, action really picked up between the Filipina5 and Morocco.
Graversen followed it up with a goal of her own three minutes and eight seconds later, before Morocco racked up three goals in response to turn the match around.
Now Filipina5 look to build on the positives from this game before colliding with knockout phase-bound Argentina on Thursday, Nov. 27.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad)
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.