Madarang, Bolden, McDaniel shine in historic win

A victory for the ages as football returns to the Philippines.

The Philippine Women’s National Team has defeated Australia on their very first meeting, registering a 1-0 upset in the opening game of the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship Group A on a rainy Monday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The winning goal came from a header by Sarina Bolden at the 59th minute.

Sandwiched by two hulking Australian defenders, Bolden was able to nip the ball off a quality long throw by right back Eva Madarang.

The ball bounced off the left post toward the back of the net. It was Bolden’s tenth goal on her 20th international cap, tying Sara Castañeda for fifth in the Filipinas’ all-time scoring list.

“It was a bunch of heart today,” Bolden said.

“I was just able to jump up the defender and I didn’t give up on that goal,” she continued, attributing the win to their three European friendlies last month.

It was a nip-and-tuck affair for both teams on midfield as they were unable to get chances at the final third for 28 minutes.

The Filipinas had their first chance on goal with a Jessice Miclat long bomb that was handily saved by goalkeeper Jada Whyman.

The Filipinas’ defense would later be challenged but a header by Princess Ibini and a strike by Charlotte Grant went awry.

Olivia McDaniel also saved a potential own goal from Eva Madarang to keep the game scoreless at halftime.

With the entry of substitutes Tahnai Annis and Sara Eggesvik, the Filipinas upped the tempo by second half, having more opportunities from press breaks.

Bolden though missed a header off a cross from Katrina Guillou at the 49th minute but the much-coveted goal came ten minutes later with the winning goal off Madarang’s throw.

Bolden could have scored on a hat trick but missed badly on a wide-open bicycle kick and an uncontested running strike.

Goalkeeper McDaniel then had perhaps her greatest play in her young career, performing a double save off two Australian strikes at the 71st minute to keep her team afloat in those dangerous moments.

The Filipinas’ defense, anchored on Madarang, kept on pressing and their efforts finally paid off when they blocked Australia’s last free kick attempt from near the penalty box.

Ibini had one final push at the right wing but Madarang was able to defend and force a goal kick at the sound of the final whistle.

It was a historic win for the Filipinas, winning for the first time against the world number 12 Matildas, who fielded a predominantly under-23 team.

“That’s more than a big win, that’s amazing to beat a team that’s ranked 12th in the world. It didn’t matter if we faced a young team, this is an international fixture,” said Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic, who used to coach the Matildas in the 2010s.

“This team deserves a full stadium here, they deserve to see this packed in the next few games,” Stajcic remarked.

Also in Group A action, Singapore and Malaysia settled for a goalless draw in the first game while Thailand jumped to an early group lead by tearing Indonesia, 4-0, in a separate game in Biñan.

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