In a historic moment for the Philippines, the national women's soccer team secured its first-ever victory at the Women's World Cup by defeating New Zealand with a score of 1-0, CNN reports.
The winning goal came from Sarina Bolden, a California-born player, who scored with a header in the 24th minute, making it the country's first-ever goal in the competition.
As the game progressed, New Zealand attempted to equalize, with Jacqui Hand's looping header seemingly finding the net midway through the second half. However, the goal was ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) due to an offside call. The Philippines successfully held off New Zealand's pressure, including an outstanding diving save from goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel in added time.
After the match, Sarina Bolden expressed her elation, stating that playing in the World Cup and scoring a goal had been a lifelong dream for her. She credited her teammates, staff, fans, and the support from the Philippines for the victory.
The win places the Philippines in a promising position in Group A, with the opportunity to make further history by advancing to the knockout phases with one group game remaining. The team's achievement is particularly noteworthy, as many of its players are US-born and play internationally.
Bolden, who now holds the record as the Philippines' top women's international goalscorer, is one of the standout stars. Despite having never been to the Philippines before joining the national team, her success has contributed to a growing interest in soccer within the country.
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