Alana Jancevski guided Australia’s Under-23 side to a vital 1-0 win over defending champions the Philippines at the ASEAN Women’s Championships MSIG Serenity Cup 2025.
After last week’s 1-0 loss to Myanmar in their tournament opener, Melbourne Victory star Jancevski was the hero against the Filipinas on Sunday as the Aussies stayed in contention for the semi-finals.
Against a Philippines team coached by former Western United boss Mark Torcaso, who has ex-Newcastle Jets assistant Ric Marchioli and former Brisbane Roar Ninja A-League head coach Garrath McPherson as assistants, Australia made 10 changes to the starting XI.
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Joe Palatsides’ line-up was dominated by Ninja A-League players: Chloe Lincoln (Brisbane Roar), Alana Cerne (Western United), Isabel Gomez (Central Coast Mariners), Holly Furphy (Melbourne Victory) Annalise Rasmussen (Central Coast Mariners), Tori Tumeth (Sydney FC), Amy Chessari (Western Sydney Wanderers), Sasha Grove (Western United), Leticia McKenna (Melbourne City), Claudia Cicco (Newcastle Jets) and Jancevski.
Alicia Woods (Brisbane Roar), Aideen Keane (Canberra United) and Ella Tonkin (Adelaide United) also came off the bench.
Australia dominated possession against a well set-up Philippines side and looked threatening in attack.
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Jancevski scored the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time – her fine individual effort proving the difference after Lincoln produced a brilliant save in the second half to thwart the Filipinas.
Australia will face Timor-Leste in their final group-stage fixture on Wednesday.
