Philippines Makes Historic Victory against New Zealand at Women’s World Cup 2023
In a stunning upset, the Philippines secured their first ever Women’s World Cup victory by defeating New Zealand 1-0. The winning goal came in the 24th minute from Sarina Bolden, who scored a header to mark the country’s first-ever goal in the competition’s history.
Despite New Zealand’s efforts to make a comeback, including a disallowed goal, the Philippines managed to hold on to their lead and claim the historic victory. The team’s goalkeeper, Olivia McDaniel, made a remarkable diving save in added time to seal the win.
The win puts the Philippines in a favorable position in Group A. As the first debutant team to secure a victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, they now have an opportunity to reach the knockout phases with one group game remaining.
The Philippines’ success in the World Cup has generated excitement and interest, particularly in the Philippines and among Filipino Americans. Sarina Bolden, one of the team’s standout players and a US-born Filipino, believes that the team’s performance on the big stage will spark more interest in soccer in the country.
With her goal in the match against New Zealand, Bolden became the Philippines’ record women’s international goalscorer, further cementing her role as one of the team’s most recognizable stars. The goalkeeper, Olivia McDaniel, also hails from California and plays for Stallion Laguna in the Philippines.
For Filipino fans in New Zealand, the victory was bittersweet as they expressed their dual identity. While grateful to have New Zealand as their home, they also recognized the significance of the win for the Philippines.
In other matches on Tuesday, Switzerland and Norway played out a 0-0 draw, with both teams struggling to find the breakthrough goal. Colombia, on the other hand, got off to a strong start in their World Cup campaign by defeating South Korea 2-0.
The Women’s World Cup continues on Sunday, July 30, with Switzerland facing New Zealand and Norway playing against the Philippines. Norway must secure a victory to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.