No Cap Recap | How Team Philippines Made History with their First Victory in the FIFA World Cup
AFP, ABS CBN News
In my previous article highlighting how special the FIFA 2023 World Cup is, marking the debut of any Filipino team (Men’s or Women’s) qualifying for a global soccer event, I planted my flag and stated that Filipinos rise to the occasion and they deliver, oh and did Team Philippines deliver! Hearts around the world, non-Filipino and Filipinos alike, were glued to their screens to see if Team Philippines could hold off against the host nation, New Zealand, in a grueling 90 minute battle in their 2nd match of the Group A stage. Here’s a quick recap of all the crucial moments leading up to Team Philippines bringing home the win.
Trying to capitalize on their previous victory, Team New Zealand also known as ‘The Ferns’ came out of the gates hot in the first 20 minutes with 5 goal attempts on Team Philippines, nicknamed ‘The Filipinas’. Luckily with stout defense, the Filipnas were able to block 3 of the 5 attempts with 2 of the attempts resulting in completely missed attempts.
At the 24’ minute mark, Forward Sarina Bolden exploded above 2 defenders and headed the ball at very close range to the center of the goal, scoring the first ever goal at the Women’s World Cup for the Philippines. From an interview with USA Today, Santa Clarita native Sarina Bolden recants her game winning goal and told reporters “I’ll remember this moment forever, for the rest of my life,” Bolden said after the match. “I’m so happy to be a part of it”.
AFP, ABS CBN News
I wish I could say that the Filipinas were coasting after that history making goal but the next 70 minutes were some of the most intense plays I’ve witnessed in a soccer match. The Ferns really turned up the intensity and relentlessly created a barrage of 16 shot attempts against the Filipinas, with one goal being scored but ultimately was overruled and called back due to an offsides clarification from a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. You could see on everyone’s faces how much of a turning point that would have been had the goal been upheld, shock from the Ferns and a sigh of relief from the Filipinas. But amidst the multitude of attempts, the Filipinas kept their composure as they fended against the Ferns offensive tactics. One key player that secured the win was the Filipinas goalie, Olivia McDaniel and her 4 saves, bringing an emphatic defensive stop to any attempt at the Ferns bringing the match to a draw. Just like that as the timer hit zero and the match concluded, the Filipnas rushed on the field to enjoy all the pride and joy flooding onto the pitch as Filipinos all over the world were so proud of what the Filipinas had just accomplished. A feat that has ever been done before.
ABS CBN News
With 2 matches concluded for the Filipinas from the group A stage, the world eagerly sits in anticipation to see if they can keep up the momentum as they face the last ranked team in group A, Norway, on Sunday July 30th 12:00am PST. Should the Filipinas secure a win, depending on their goal totals, this could put them in 2nd for group A and bring them one step closer to making the cut for the 16 team knockout stage.
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