Women's World Cup: Sarina Bolden scores Philippines' first goal
Posted : 25 July 2023
In a surprising upset, the Philippines secured their first-ever victory at the Women's World Cup, defeating co-hosts New Zealand in Wellington. The Philippines' Sarina Bolden scored the historic goal in the 24th minute, heading in a cross from Sara Eggesvik.
New Zealand, who had stunned Norway in the tournament's opening match, were unable to find an equalizer despite a relentless second-half push.
Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel's impressive save in stoppage time denied New Zealand's Grace Jale a potential equalizer.
The home team's frustration grew as they failed to capitalize on several scoring opportunities, with Jacqui Hand having a goal disallowed for offside and Hannah Wilkinson heading over the bar.
The Philippines showcased defensive strength in the early stages and capitalized on counter-attacks, growing in confidence as the match progressed. They carried a surprising lead into halftime, leaving the home crowd anxious in the Wellington Regional Stadium.
In the second half, Celtic's Olivia Chance made an impact after coming on as a substitute, delivering dangerous crosses from the left. However, the Philippines' goalkeeper, McDaniel, held her ground and thwarted New Zealand's attempts to level the score.
With this unexpected result, Group A remains wide open, and New Zealand must now secure a favorable result in their final match against Switzerland to advance to the knockout stages for the first time in the tournament.
The performance of lower-ranked nations has been notable in the Women's World Cup, and the Philippines' historic victory is a testament to the competitiveness of the tournament.
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