Poletti 
Mark Torcaso [L] and Jael-Marie Guy [R] in the post-game press conference following their 2-0 win over Uzbekistan. Photo Credit: Poletti/Round Ball Australia
To succeed in tournament football, sometimes, you need to hunker down defensively to avoid conceding. Occasionally, you need to rely on other results, and sometimes, you need a stroke of tactical brilliance and a deep knowledge of your players.
For Mark Torcaso’s Philippines side, they have had to rely on all three of those throughout the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, but it was the latter in full display on Thursday afternoon as they defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 to automatically qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Torcaso made a tactical adjustment to his line-up, allowing defender Angie Beard more freedom to move into the forward line, where she spent a significant portion of the game.
Beard was rewarded for her efforts, scoring the opening goal after being on the receiving end of an inch-perfect cross from Jael-Marie Guy.
Torcaso, who used Beard as part of a front three when he was coaching Calder United in NPL Victoria Women’s, described her as aggressive in the front third and that she starts the Philippines defence from up top.
“I’m lucky enough that I’ve had a long journey with Angie both at Calder, Western [United], and now here, and I know the quality she’s got as a player,” Torcaso said.
“She can play anywhere on the park. She’d probably say she can play as a goalkeeper as well to be honest.
“To be able to have Angie go high and score and be on the end of it, I said to her before the game, I said this is your game to score.
“Having that opportunity of working with Angie for so long enabled me to make those decisions along with my coaching staff. We know Angie’s qualities and we took full advantage of that today.”
Guy, who was named player of the match, also set up the second goal which was scored by Jaclyn Sawicki, and the ensuing goal celebration between the two was made possible because of a fan.
Guy wears jersey 7, while Sawicki wears jersey 6, so they referenced the viral meme trend that took the world by storm late in 2025.
The two were captured on video by a fan during the Philippines match against South Korea and the fan had added the 6,7 to it when it was posted to social media.
“We thought it was so funny and we were just like ‘why don’t we do it as a celly if one of us scores?’
“It was just perfect that I was the one that assisted her goal.”
Guy also said that she had dreamed about qualifying for a World Cup since she was little and that going to one is something that seems unreachable until it actually happens.
“Although I am so grateful to get the player of the match, I couldn’t have done it without the team and without the staff here. It really does take a village and if Ange and Jackie (Jaclyn Sawicki) weren’t on the end of those, this wouldn’t have happened,” she said.
During the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, The Dubcast, Round Ball Australia’s Women’s Football podcast, will have daily episodes discussing the days games and looking ahead to the next days matches. Listen on Spotify, Apple, or watch on YouTube.