Phú Thọ: Australia ignited their challenge in Group B of the ASEAN Women’s MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 on Sunday with a 1-0 win over defending champions the Philippines at Việt Trì Stadium.
Alana Jancevski scored the game’s only goal in first-half injury time to move the Australians level on three points with the Philippines and keep the Joseph Palatsides-coached side in contention for a place in the semi-finals with one round of group matches remaining.
The win was a deserved reward for an Australian team that dominated possession but often struggled to find a way through a well-drilled Philippines defence.
A scrappy first half burst into life in the 21st minute when Jancevski received possession with her back to goal 35 yards out. The 22-year-old turned to fire a vicious shot towards the bottom corner of the goal, but Olivia McDaniel pushed the ball to safety while at full stretch.
The Australians failed to turn their superiority into clear-cut opportunities, although Philippines defender Kaya Hawkinson was called upon to head Leticia McKenna’s threatening in-swinging cross from the right wide of her own goal.
McKenna attempted a speculative effort with four minutes left in the opening period when she was gifted possession inside the Philippines half only to pull the attempt wide. McKenna tried her luck again moments later, with McDaniel blocking with ease.
A minute into injury time, however, the Australians prevailed. Jancevski picked the ball up on the right side before cutting across the path of the retreating Azumi Oka and bending a low left-foot shot into the opposite corner of the goal.
Eight minutes into the second half the Philippines were denied the equaliser by a fine save from Chloe Lincoln, who threw herself to her left to keep out Hali Long’s header from Chandler McDaniel’s corner as the Australians picked up the points.
MSIG Player of the Match - Alana Jancevski (#13), Australia
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