AUCKLAND – Despite suffering a 0-2 defeat to Switzerland in their historic first match in Group A of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Dunedin last Friday, the Filipinas remained optimistic and eagerly anticipating their crucial match against host New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday.

“We can only build from here, stay true to ourselves, and keep pushing forward,” stated goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, who delivered an outstanding performance in the chilly Forsyth Barr Stadium, keeping the La Nati at bay for much of the game.

“We had an unfortunate PK (penalty kick), but we’ll learn from these mistakes and prepare for the next one,” added the SoCal Union FC mainstay, referring to Ramona Bachmann’s completed penalty in the dying minutes of the first half after Jessika Cowart’s tackle of a Swiss player inside the box.

“Despite this loss, we will analyze our errors, strive for improvement, and apply it to the next game,” continued the goalkeeper, expected to play a prominent role against the Ferns at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday.

Striker Katrina Guillou, whose early potential goal was disallowed due to offside, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “It was a close call, but we still have two group stage games, and hopefully, we can pick up momentum from there.”

“We started out strong and made things difficult for Switzerland. We were finding spaces and covering gaps effectively. Unfortunately, we conceded two goals, but it’s our first World Cup in our debut game. We still have a lot to look forward to,” she added.

Midfielder Sarah Eggesvik shared the same spirit as her celebrated teammates. “We will continue to fight and eagerly anticipate our next two games,” she declared.

While acknowledging Switzerland’s superiority in the previous match, Australian coach Alen Stajcic emphasized that “the next game will be different.”

Stajcic and the players expressed appreciation for the small yet passionate Filipino fans who braved the bone-chilling weather in Dunedin. They counted on the fans to show unwavering support in the upcoming group matches.

“To all the kababayans who came out tonight, maraming salamat! We love you so much, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having our backs,” McDaniel expressed on behalf of the team. “Please continue to support this special group; your support means the world to us.”

The Filipinas, also backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, returned to their base camp on a chartered flight on Saturday noon and would be gearing up for their journey to Wellington the next day.