WELLINGTON — The Filipinas proved that they were not just here in New Zealand to take part. They were here to shock the world.
Sarina Bolden and Olivia McDaniel etched their names in the annals of Philippine sports as the former’s first half strike and the latter’s clean sheet propelled the Philippine Women’s National Football team to a 1-0 upset over 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup host nation and world no. 26 New Zealand at the Wellington Regional Stadium here.
Off a Sara Eggesvik pass, Bolden headed the ball over towering Ferns Rebekah Stott and CJ Bott. The ball ricocheted off of Victoria Esson’s head before passing through both of her hands to net the goal at the 24th minute of the match.
McDaniel then held the fort for the Filipinas the rest of the way.
“This must be a special moment in (Philippine football history), the biggest win in any team sport,” stressed Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic.
A ‘Hand of God’ moment for McDaniel occured at the death.
At the 90+2 minute mark of the contest, Grace Jale struck from inside the post to the right. McDaniel dove and was able to swipe the attempt away with her left hand.
“We really put our head down and we knew what was really coming at us. New Zealand would be coming hard from their momentum of their win against Switzerland but we put our head down and came in focused,” said McDaniel.
“We had a goal in mind and we achieved it.”
Of course, luck also played a huge factor in the title witnessed by 32,357 here.
Jacqui Hand had a clean sniff at the goal but ended up only hitting the post.
Later on, Hand headed in the ball at the 68th-minute mark. However, a video assistant referee (VAR) review saw that the head of Hannah Wilkonson, who gave the cross, was just a few inches past her defender resulting in an offside.
“Of course, we rode our luck because New Zealand had three or four unbelievable chances There was that VAR call, an inside-the-post goal (that McDaniel was able to save),” he recalled.
“But the unity, work rate and heart of team were special. We had some luck but we earned that luck.”
In the other game in Pool A, Switzerland held Norway to a scoreless draw at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton to wind up on top of the group with four points while leaving their rivals, who were earlier tipped to the top of the bracket, mired in last place with one point.
The Filipinas went up to third while the Ferns sit at second.
The Philippines and New Zealand will return to action this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Manila time.
The Filipinas will take on Norway here in Auckland while the Football Ferns shall face Switzerland here in Dunedin.
New Zealand XI: Esson (GK), Percival ©, Bott, Steinmetz, Riley, Hassett, Stott, Bowen, Hand, Wilkinson, Riley.
Philippines XI: McDaniel (GK), Cowart, Sawicki, Long ©, Bolden, Eggesvik, Beard, Harrison, Barker, Quezada, Guillou
