Iceland turned up the heat in Spain as the isolated Nordic country bagged the 2023 Pinatar Cup in runaway fashion, drubbing the Philippine women’s national football team, 5-0, in Wednesday’s finale in Pinatar, Spain.
The world number 16 made mincemeat of the world number 53 as 19-year-old forward Amanda Andradottir scored a brace to share the Golden Boot with compatriot Olof Kristinsdottir, who scored her own brace in the opener against Scotland.
The Swedish league standout opened her account with a goal from around 30 yards in the 20th minute, which bounced to the goal in front of a stunned Olivia McDaniel.
Andradottir followed up in the 51st minute by beating Filipina vice-captain Hali Long on a 1v1 for the goal as Iceland fooled the erratic Filipinas back four with a quick set piece from near center pitch.
Iceland displayed its impeccable team play as Selma Magnusdottir struck a goal in the 71st minute from top of the box off one-touch passing with Andradottir and Karolina Vihjalmsdottir.
Nine minutes later, Vihljalmsdottir took advantage of Kaya Hawkinson’s slip on defense, assisting to Hlin Eiriksdottir for the fourth goal.
Serie A skipper Alexandra Johansdottir capped the night with a header from point blank in the game’s final seconds, receiving a long ball from Hafrun Halldorsdottir.
The Filipinas, playing without top players Katrina Guillou and Sara Eggesvik, played erratically from the defensive half, which frustrated their penchant for quick offensive sets.
Center back Maya Alcantara had the first chance for goal in the 15th minute but her header off Meryll Serrano’ free kick went too high.
At the tailend of the first half, Quinley Quezada had a shot from top right easily saved by goalkeeper Telma Ivarsdottir while Jaclyn Sawicki’s clear path for a strike from top of the box sailed a little right of the goal.
The Filipinas were reduced to a string of long shot attempts in the second half that all went awry but had a mini run in their attacking third approaching the 80th minute, but shots from Hawkinson and Isabella Flanigan from inside the box were blocked by the Icelandic defense.
With the rout, Iceland won the Pinatar Cup with two wins and one draw, three years after ending up runner-up to Scotland in 2020.
Iceland has also continued its success in high-tier pocket tournaments, winning the silver trophy last year in the SheBelieves Cup that was won by the United States.
The Philippines, on the other hand, are winless in its first European tournament, losing earlier to Scotland and Wales by one goal each.
This morning’s loss was the biggest since the 2020 Olympic qualifiers in November 2018, when the Filipinas, then led by Shelah Cadag, had a similar 0-5 result versus Taiwan.
The Filipinas will vie for a 2024 Olympic slot in April and will next face Pakistan in the opener of the Asian zone qualifying tournament.
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