Scotland 2-1 Philippines
Pinatar Cup
Saturday, 18 February 2023
Pinatar Arena, Spain

Scorers

Scotland – Davidson 40’, Corsie 57’

Philippines – Serrano 90'

Team news

Pedro Martinez Losa named 10 changes to the team that faced Iceland. Sam Kerr the only player remaining in the starting line-up from the Pinatar Cup opener. Emma Mukandi captained the side which featured Jenna Fife in goals, Mukandi was joined in defence by Kelly Clark, Kirsty Smith and Jenna Clark. Sam Kerr featured in midfield with Christie Murray and Lisa Evans. Martha Thomas up front with Christy Grimshaw and Lauren Davidson on either side.

As it happened

Thomas got proceedings underway for Scotland in blustery conditions in Spain. Thomas and Davidson created the best of the chances inside the opening 10 minutes. Thomas came within inches of opening the scoring early on when Smith delivered from the right side, but she just couldn’t connect at full stretch.

Murray played Thomas through on 15 minutes but was flagged for offside.  Philippines absorbed the pressure applied by Scotland who controlled play through the middle of the pitch. Philippines asked questions of the Scotland defence in the 25th minute with Clark and Clark combining to clear the danger, calmly ushering the ball to safety.

Neither goalkeeper was tested until the 40th minute, Kerr supplied the ball from midfield to Smith on the right who played Davidson through. Davidson weaved into the 18-yard box and took the shot low and hard to beat McDaniel and open the scoring for Scotland.

Pedro Martinez Losa’s side went in ahead at the break, Davidson’s first goal in dark blue was all that separated the two sides.

Scotland made three changes at half-time, Evans, Clark K and Murray made way for Rachel Corsie, Caroline Weir and Kirsty Hanson.

Buoyed by the opening goal late in the first half, Scotland started positively with Hanson having an immediate impact, but it was Grimshaw with the best chance early in the second half. Thomas the provider from outside the box, but Grimshaw pulled a shot agonisingly wide of the far post.

Kerr took a shot from distance in the 55th minute after the Philippines failed to clear the danger from a Weir free-kick which was drilled into the box. Scotland didn’t have to wait long for another goal though, Corsie capitalised from close-range in the 57th minute, collecting the ball from a Weir perfectly delivered corner-kick.

More changes for Scotland in the 72nd minute, Abi Harrison and Chloe Arthur on for Kerr and Thomas. Grimshaw had a shot from distance a minute later, but the powerful drive was blocked from inside the box.

Scotland continued to stretch the game with Weir dominating the middle of the pitch. Harrison made her presence felt on the Philippines defence but couldn’t make the breakthrough. Jamie-Lee Napier made her Scotland debut, coming on in the 82nd minute for Grimshaw.

Philippines got a goal back on the 90th minute, Serrano with the consolation from a free-kick. A solid win in the end and first points on the board in the Pinatar Cup.

Teams

Scotland: Fife, Mukandi, K Clark (Corsie 46’), Smith, J Clark, Kerr (Arthur 72’), Evans (Weir 46’), Murray (Hanson 46’), Davidson, Thomas (Harrison 72’), Grimshaw (Napier 82’)

Unused subs: Gibson, Cumings, Docherty, Howard, Brown, Emslie, Cuthbert, Hay

Philippines: McDaniel, Sawicki, Long, Annis, Bolden, Eggesvik, Harrison, Barker, Cowart, Quezada, Guillou

Subs: Palacios, Fontanilla, Cesar, Randle, Rodriguez, Flanagan, Bonta, Castaneda, Hawkinson, Serrano, Frilles, Madarang, Alcantara

Up next

Our Pinatar Cup campaign concludes on Tuesday afternoon, as we take on Cymru – kick-off is 2.05pm and you can watch live on BBC Alba.