‘Why not win the whole thing?’: Sarina Bolden dreams of Philippines ruling AFC Women’s Cup

Rick Olivares – Philstar.com

January 31, 2022 | 8: 02pm

MANILA, Philippines – Three wins in four fits. After a rousing 4-3 care for in a penalty shootout within the quarterfinals of the Asian Females’s Cup that gave the Philippines a cherished and coveted slot within the 2023 FIFA Females’s World Cup, the conclusion within the Filipina booters’ locker room is rising. 

“I judge the locker room and every person is, ‘Hey, we won this sport and made historic previous on top of historic previous. Would possibly as successfully care for going to the tip and care for this total tournament,’” bared 25-one year outdated forward Sarina Bolden, who scored the match-winning penalty that sent the Filipinas by.

By map of is rarely any longer easiest the FIFA Females’s World Cup, nonetheless also the Asian Females’s Cup where they’re within the semifinals versus Korea — a match that would possibly possibly be performed at 4 p.m. on February 3 (Manila time).

Added, Bolden, “The thought is like, let’s proceed to form historic previous and level to other folks horrible. Let’s care for working laborious and establish extra than what other folks thought we can also attain.”

The feat is the farthest any Philippine national soccer crew has long previous in this roughly elite competition. 

Korea is subsequent. And the Colin Bell-coached side accomplished 2nd in Crew C of the Crew Phases, the same document as Japan. The Taegeuk Ladies, because the distaff side is nicknamed, shy every person by ousting laborious-just correct fortune Australia within the quarterfinals with a rocket of a shot by Ji So-yun within the 87th minute that dipped into the tip left nook factual beyond the fingertips of keeper, Lydia Williams.

“Now we possess one other seeded crew in Korea (within the semifinals); let’s see if we are in a position to hold with them,” postulated Bolden. 

To this level, the No. 64-ranked Filipinas possess defeated two elevated seeded teams.

Thailand, which the Philippines defeated 1-nil, is ranked 38th by FIFA. Chinese-Taipei is No. 39. Australia is No. 11 whereas Korea is at No. 18.

Handiest Indonesia, which the Filipinas white-washed, 6-0, is ranked underneath them at No. 94.