Bandoja breakthrough highlights Filipina5 run vs. Argentina to end World Cup bid

Isabella Bandoja delivered a late spark that gave the home crowd something to cheer for, but world No. 6 Argentina proved too sharp in the early minutes as the Filipina5 bowed out of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup with a 5-1 result at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Nov. 27.

The loss officially knocked the Philippines out of World Cup contention,  as they packed up with a 0-3 heartbreak, while Argentina cruised to a 3-0 dominance in group A to stay in the hunt.

Lara Villalba sparked the Argentines’ surge with a goal in the second minute, before hell broke loose as another four strikes slid through the Filipino defense that left the Filipina5 chasing all game.

But as the odds seemed to turn for the worse, Isabella Bandejo proved to be the saving grace as she converted Isabella Flanigan’s block into a push from deep that eventually struck the net in 27 minutes, rescuing the Philippines from the misery of a shutdown on home soil.

Despite a bleak showing in the first-ever World Futsal Cup, Bandejo expressed the team’s efforts that built up to the moment in front of the roaring cheers of a  28,000-strong home crowd.

“Up until now, we gave everything. I think we all just played with our heart. Up until the last minute, it’s an honor to represent our country in front of our own crowd,” said the 24-year-old athlete after the match.

Argentina now looks to sustain momentum as it barges into the quarterfinals alongside Morocco, which escaped Poland with a 1-0 sheet, Dec. 1.

With reports from Philippine Football Federation