A last-possession loss to Zimbabwe could have sunk the Philippines U15 team. Instead, the team answered with five goals from four scorers in a 5-2 win over Aruba at the FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival on Thursday, October 29.

Quito Pascual of the LA Galaxy Academy scored twice, while Micah Alva, Dan Becera and Barcelona-based Alcantara each added a goal. It was the Philippines’ fourth win of the tournament, which drew 189 national teams to Baku.

Philippines U15 Rally Past Aruba

Aruba struck first when winger Tysheron Commijs scored in the 10th minute. Pascual equalized in the 19th minute, and Alva put the Philippines ahead early in the second half. Jaymilliano Herkul tied it at 2-2 in the 24th.

Pascual restored the lead in the 28th minute, and Becera made it 4-2 in the 32nd off a long ball from Jonas Oliverio. Alcantara completed the scoring off another Oliverio assist. Goalkeeper Jordan Tan also helped stave off an Aruban counter.

Zimbabwe Setback and Andorra Finale

The win followed a rough stretch in Tier D of the classification round. The Philippines beat Macau 2-0 on Wednesday, then lost 3-0 to Tajikistan in the nightcap.

On Thursday, the Philippines fell 3-2 to Zimbabwe after leading 2-0 through goals from Alcantara and Becera. Zimbabwe tied it on set pieces in the 27th and 34th minutes, and captain Marlon Zuruvi scored the winner in its final possession.

“The players worked really hard for this win, and they fully deserved it,” head coach Roxy Dorlas said. “We moved the ball around much better and controlled the tempo of the game.”

Andorra, the Philippines’ only European opponent at the tournament, won the finale 2-1 on a late goal. The result left the Philippines 110th among 189 nations in its first FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival, with four wins in 10 games.