How New Zealand Media Covered the Philippines' World Cup Win on Their Home Turf
Everyone is celebrating the Philippines’ win at the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday (July 25). It’s the first time ever that the country has won a World Cup match—men’s or women’s.
But there’s at least one group of people who isn’t joining the loud cheers for the Filipino booters. Co-host New Zealand’s Football Ferns was, unfortunately, the team that the Philippines beat in the match. Losing is always tough in any sort of competition, but to have it happen in front of the home crowd is doubly painful.
But that’s how sports goes: you win some, you lose some.
We parsed through some of New Zealand’s top news sites to find out how the Kiwis covered their team’s shocking loss to the Philippines. Here are some of the headlines:
ALSO READ
Who Is Sarina Bolden, the Filipina Footballer Who Scored the Historic Goal Against New Zealand?
Get to Know the 2023 Filipinas World Cup Team
New Zealand Herald
“Given the circumstances, it was one of the biggest anti-climaxes in New Zealand sporting history. Everything was set up for a footballing celebration – with a huge television audience, a perfect Wellington evening and a near capacity crowd. But the Asian team, making their World Cup debut, tore up the script, as the Ferns slumped to one of their worst World Cup defeats.
“The Philippines coach promised they would crash the party – and they did it spectacularly – with Sarina Bolden’s 24th minute goal proving the difference.”
Stuff New Zealand
“The Ferns started hot, creating several chances inside the opening 10 minutes, but they were not as composed as they had been against Norway and when passes didn’t stick, they found themselves committing unnecessary fouls.
“Philippines coach Alen Stajcic said afterwards that his side rode our luck’ on their way to clinching their first World Cup win in just their second match – a feat that stands in stark contrast with the Ferns finally getting there in their 16th last week.
RNZ
“The Football Ferns continued to test the Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel who was up to the task right until the end when she saved a shot from replacement forward Grace Jale with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
“New Zealand defender Katie Bowen told Sky Sport post-match that she was ‘massively disappointed’ with the result.
“’I felt that we had chances we had most of the possession but we just weren't clinical enough and ultimately they wanted it more than us.’
“’First half we got bullied, second half we did better but it just wasn't there for us tonight.’”
NewsHub
“The Football Ferns boasted almost 80 percent of the possession at one point, with their opposition perfectly happy to sit back and wait patiently to counter.
“And they did just that in the 24th minute after New Zealand conceded the free-kick inside their own half.
“After the Football Ferns failed to clear the long ball, a cross found Sarina Bolden in between two defenders, and she rose to head the ball in for her country's first-ever goal at a World Cup.
“With their first shot finding the back of the net, the Philippines began to play with their tails up against the shell-shocked Kiwis.
1News
24min: NZL 0-1 PHI
PHI GOAL! The Philippines stun the Football Ferns! Their first ever goal at a World Cup and it's Bolden! The free kick comes into the box and is headed away from the Kiwis but not cleared. Back in control just outside the box on the right, the cross comes in and Bolden rises for the header and beats the keeper.
