Philippines shocked at the 2023 World Cup

The whistle to end the game sounded, Filipino players rushed into the field to hug each other to celebrate. This victory helps them continue to raise their hopes of qualifying for the group stage in their first World Cup appearance.

Sarina Bolden became the hero of the Southeast Asian team with the only goal after 28 minutes. After Angie Beard's free kick, the New Zealand defender headed home. Sara Eggesvik chased it back and then crossed the ball into the penalty area. In the encirclement of three home players, Sarina Bolden jumped the highest, headed near the wall.

Bolden scored the first shot that the Philippines had in the match on Sky. This is also the first goal from a group of eight teams attending the World Cup for the first time including Morocco, Philippines, Vietnam, Zambia, Republic of Ireland, Haiti, Portugal and Panama.

Sarina Bolden was born and raised in California, was called to the US U23 team. She had never been to the Philippines until she was persuaded by the former head coach of the country to join the team at the end of 2017. Since then, she has become the main striker of the Philippines, with 22 goals.

On the Sky field, the Philippines entered the game with a 5-3-2 diagram, the players moved continuously, covering each other well to intercept the attacking phases of New Zealand. When the home team moved the ball to the edge and made crosses, the Philippines did not have any difficulty when most of their players were born and raised in Europe and the US, with good body shape to fight the ball.

In the second half, the game completely belonged to New Zeland, the ball almost only rolled on the field of the Philippines. But goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel played too well to preserve the victory for the Southeast Asian representative. In the third minute of injury time, Grace Jale bent to finish a close touch after a teammate's right wing cross. However, the goalkeeper of the Philippines reacted very quickly, using his fingertips to push the ball to the end of the goal line to save. At the end of the match, the teammates rushed to congratulate Olivia McDaniel.

New Zealand created many opportunities in the second half but their spearheads lacked sharpness, unable to turn opportunities into goals. 58 minutes, Hannah Wilkinson headed over the bar at close range. Six minutes later, it was Jacqui Hand's turn to make the home audience hold their heads in regret when the ball bounced off the post after a horizontal stretch that sent the ball into the second round of the Philippines defender Olivia Chance.

New Zealand once put the ball into the Philippines' net, after Annalie Longo's header in the 68th minute. However, the home team missed, because after consulting VAR the referee did not recognize the goal for offside. Wilkinson's shoulder passed the opponent's defender only a few centimeters when she escaped to control the ball just above the goal line, passing it to Annalie Longo.

Philippines is the second Southeast Asian team to have a win at the World Cup, after Thailand's 3-2 victory over Ivory Coast at the 2015 tournament. With three points, the team still has hope of progressing to the group stage. In the final series of Group A matches, Philippines meets Norway on July 30.