by Kevin Estrada

A stern test awaits the Philippine Women’s National Football Team as they take on Ukizbekistan in a crucial friendly at the Rizal Memorial Wednesday evening.

Mark Torcaso’s Filipinas are raring to win in front of a home crowd in Manila, after being at the wrong end of a stinging defeat to Chinese Taipei last June.

“Everyone comes out to support us and we’re really excited to play here,” said the Australian manager last Tuesday at a press conference in Pasay.

Although it took them two years to play against Central Asian opposition, the 52nd-ranked Uzbeks are no pushovers to the fearless Filipinas who ranked 13 places higher, as they are on fine form by being unbeaten in their last six matches (five wins and a draw).

That run included their Group F campaign at home in the Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, where they needed to beat Nepal on penalties in the last match to reach the continental showcase for the first time since 2003.

For Torcaso, facing teams that are in form are beneficial to them, especially that they will have a busy schedule moving forward starting with the Southeast Asian Games in December and the WAC Down Under next year.

“Uzbekistan is an opponent that we respect a lot,” he said. “We chose this because it is a perfect opponent going to the SEA Games.”

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