Team Philippines drew first blood in its classification game against Denmark on Thursday night at the 2024 Men’s World Floorball Championship in Malmö, Sweden, but ultimately succumbed to a disciplined Danish offense, losing 2-10.
Kim Varga Rosello opened the scoring at the 5-minute mark of the first period, giving the Filipino side a brief lead and raising hopes of a potential upset. However, Denmark responded swiftly, tightening its defense and quickly shifting momentum.
The Danes scored five unanswered goals spanning the first and second quarters, effectively putting the game out of reach. Simon Sicat Larano managed to score Team Philippines’ second and final goal, but Denmark continued to dominate.
The third period was all Denmark, who netted five more goals to seal the win, asserting their superiority and denying Team Philippines the opportunity to finish among the top 10 in the tournament. A clear indicator of its dominance, Denmark attempted 41 shots at the goal more than double the Philippines’ total of 19.
Denmark will now face Estonia on Friday, hoping to secure a 9th-place finish in the 16-team competition.
The loss relegates Team Philippines to the battle for 11th and 12th place, where they will face Poland in what promises to be another tough matchup. Both teams are seeking a breakthrough win, with the Philippines narrowly losing to Estonia 5-6, while Poland suffered a similar fate, losing to Estonia 3-6.
Regardless of Friday’s outcome, Team Philippines has already achieved its best-ever performance at the World Floorball Championship, marking a significant milestone in the country’s four appearances at the tournament.
