Philipines registered a convincing 1-0 win over new Zealand in their second match of the FIFA women’s World Cup at the Wellington Regional Stadium. The game was a pretty surprising one since it is as New Zealand who ended on the losing side despite having created more chances and maintained a higher rate of ball possession throughout the game. Philipines on the other hand did well to bounce back following their bitter defeat to Switzerland in their previous match. Following this win, Philippines bagged in three crucial points and are currently third in their group’s table. New Zealand on the other hand failed to maintain the momentum they had gained after a fine win over Norway in the opening match but are still placed second in their group’s table.
The game began with both the side seeking their opportunity to attack the opponent’s goal. Neither of the sides seemed to find their rhythm for the first 20 minutes or so. It was in the 24th minute that Philippines had their first major chance to open the scoring and they did exactly that. Eggesvik’s set piece delivery was clubbed in smartly by Bolden who netted in her country’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup goal. New Zealand too came close to levelling the scores right at the later minutes of the first half when Katie Bowen had the chance to go for goal from close range. She turned it into the path of Hasset who went for goal only to be denied by the last defenders who deflectrd the shot away from goal.
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The second half began and so did New Zealand’s attempts to find themselves an equalising goal. They came extremely close to one in the 64th minute when Jacqueline Hand smashed in a fine shot from edge of the box only to be denied by the woodwork. Things went from bad to worse as Hand was denied again four minutes later when her towering header ended up into the back of the net only for the VAR to rule the goal out for offside. The game eventually ended with New Zealand left stranded at the losing end. FT:- New Zealand 0-1 Philippines.
New Zealand shall next be facing Switzerland on Sunday. Meanwhile Philippines will be taking on Norway in their next group stage match.
