Manila, Philippines — Seventy-four seconds.
That was all that was left in the match between the Philippines and Indonesia in the final
elimination round match of the 2024 AFF Women’s Futsal Championship.
While both teams were level at one goal apiece, both were in search of the match
winning goal.
While Indonesia was safely in the battle for third place, they wanted to knock out the
Philippines if possible because of the homecourt crowd that gave them a huge lift.
For the host country, while a draw would suffice to enter the battle for third, if they could
win it going in, then so much the better.
With 1:14 left in the match, Indonesia had a corner kick after a save by keeper
Samantha Hughes.
The Philippines field players crowded the penalty area technically leaving two players
unmarked – team captain Novita Piranti who was going to take the corner kick, and
Rusdiana who lined up behind Dinar Sari.
As Novita kicked the ball in, Rusdiana cut to the left and fired on the run. The ball
evaded Philippine captain Isabella Bandoja and Jada Bicierro and slipped between the
legs of Hughes for the marginal goal.
The Pinays launched one last drive to salvage a draw but Lannie Ortillo was denied
twice by Indonesian keeper Diyana Herliana and Bandoja’s last shot was blocked as ran
time out.
Players from both sides dropped to the floor – the Indonesians in prayer and
exhaustion, the Filipinas in disbelief and tears.
Indonesian head coach Arif Kurniawan went up to the Philippine team and simply said,
“I am sorry.”
Rusdiana was even more in disbelief when she was judged by the Match Commissioner
Cristy Ramos as Player of the Match.
“You only dream of something like this,” she said through an interpreter.
The Indonesians began the tournament on a heartbreaking note when they succumbed
to a late goal – and a deflection following a terrific stop by Novita – to Thailand.
This time, they weathered a collapse and got the favorable result they wanted in the end
– to win going into the knockout round, and eliminate the Philippines and their
boisterous home crowd.
“We do not like to lose,” Hermans uttered n his way off the floor, “But what can you do –
that’s futsal or football. It will only be good if we can learn from it.”
Indonesia struck first in the match when Alya Hendrita snared a chip from Fitriya Hilda
who in turn, also chipped the ball over Lorraine Evangelista and Hughes.
Five minutes later, the Philippines got themselves back in the game when Bandoja spun
around Dhea Bangun and Fitri Sundari a second too late on the help defense to fire the
equalizer into the back of the net.
Despite the sad finish for the home team, foreign coaches paid tribute to the Pinays not
as lip service but in genuine fashion.
“If they keep the program going forward, they will become a very good team,” noted
Kurniawan.
Even Thailand’s Surapong Plyouwong hailed the squad. “As they play longer, and
become better with their tactics, skills, and conditioning, they will become a force in
regional futsal.”
“We had about a minute left, but…” lamented Evangelista who did not finish her
sentence.
For Hermans, the tournament was exactly what he hoped for – top quality competition
that his team needed to experience – win or lose. He bared trips for training and
competitions abroad in the lead up to the 2025 FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup.
“It might be the end for us in the tournament, but this is the beginning of our journey,” he
summed it up.
