AT A GLANCE
Sara Eggesvik delivered a brace in the second half to bring the Philippine women’s national football team past Myanmar, 3-0, and advanced to the knockout quarterfinals round of the 19th Asian Games on Thursday night, Sept. 28, at the Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium in China.
Sara Eggesvik delivered a brace in the second half to bring the Philippine women’s national football team past Myanmar, 3-0, and advanced to the knockout quarterfinals round of the 19th Asian Games on Thursday night, Sept. 28, at the Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium in China.
With their 5-1 loss to South Korea a couple of days prior, the world No. 44 Filipinas were on the brink of elimination as only three of the second best-placed squads will move to the next round of the Asiad.
Thankfully, the Philippines only needed a one goal win against Myanmar after Japan’s commanding 7-0 victory over Vietnam and Nepal's stalemate with Bangladesh in Group D, and the Nationals have done that and more to stay in the competition.
It was also a payback of some sort for the Philippines, which was booted out of the Southeast Asian Games podium last May at the hands of Myanmar.
Sarina Bolden opened the scoring anew for the third time in the group stage in the 19th minute of the match off a penalty kick after she was fouled inside the box, 1-nil.
Unlike in their two previous matches, Bolden’s goal mattered this time as the world No. 51 Myanmar side failed to find the equalizer, giving the Nationals a halftime lead.
The Filipinas held the most promising possessions this time around to create more chances for themselves to stay ahead and pile pressure on Myanmar.
Bolden came knocking in the second half a couple of times to attempt for a brace, but Myanmar keeper Nyein Myo Mya Mya was just there to stall the Philippines’ goal insurance.
However, Bolden came through with a brilliant header pass to Sara Eggesvik in the 60th minute, which the Filipinas midfielder slotted in past the Myanmar keeper to double the lead.
A minute later, Eggesvik’s brace came when she found the back of the net with an impressive left-footed shot with a cross from Meryll Serrano to give the Filipinas a convincing advantage, 3-nil.
There were endless chances for the Philippines at this point to keep itself on the scoreboard as it had fully shifted the momentum on its side, helping Olivia McDaniel keep a clean sheet for the first time in the tournament.
The acid test continues for the Filipinas at the Asiad as they face Japan in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Sept. 30.
