Not the ideal start for the Filipinas, but there's still time to recover in the Pinatar Cup.
The Philippine Women's Football Team could not recover from a late penalty kick goal before half time, as the Filipinas took a 1-0 loss to Wales to open the Pinatar Cup in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain.
Wales was awarded the penalty kick just a minute before the half time mark following a foul by Dominique Randle to Rhiannon Roberts inside the box. Kayleigh Green easily secured what would be the winning goal past Olivia McDaniel. The 32nd-ranked team in the world would hang on to that one-goal lead until the final whistle.
The squad of Alen Stajcic will have a more difficult challenge with world ranked 25th Scotland next on February 18. Philippines will finish the tournament against Iceland, the number 16 squad in the FIFA rankings.
In what could be a preview to the FIFA World Cup, the Pinatar Cup will be a critical tournament for the Filipinas to gauge what should be improved before their historic campaign in the world stage.