The Philippine Women’s National Football Team concluded their journey in the 2024 Pinatar Cup with a hard-fought battle against Slovenia in the third-place match at the Pinatar Arena. Despite their efforts, the Filipinas suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat, settling for fourth place in the tournament for the second consecutive year.

The match started with an early setback for the Philippine side as Slovenian defender Lana Golob found the back of the net in the fifth minute, securing an early lead for Slovenia. Despite the Filipinas’ resilience, Golob’s goal proved to be the decisive moment of the game.

Throughout the match, the Philippine team faced relentless pressure from the Slovenian side, who continued to push forward in search of another goal. Despite their best efforts to mount a comeback, the Filipinas struggled to break through Slovenia’s defense.

In the dying moments of the game, Philippine striker Sarina Bolden had a promising opportunity to level the score, but her attempt was thwarted by Slovenian midfielder Kaja Korošec with a crucial block. Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel also made vital saves to keep the Filipinas in contention.

With time running out, Slovenian forward Lara Prašnikar came close to extending her team’s lead, but McDaniel’s heroics ensured that the Filipinas avoided further damage.

In the earlier championship match, Scotland and Finland battled for the title. Finland took the lead in the 21st minute through Oona Sevenius, but Scotland’s Martha Thomas equalized in the 75th minute, forcing the game into penalties after a goalless extra time.

In the tense penalty shootout, Finland emerged victorious with a 5-4 win, clinching the Pinatar Cup trophy.