Wellington: Co-hosts New Zealand were defeated 1-0 by the Philippines in one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 so far.
The difference between the two came from Sarina Bolden's thunderous first-half header, which she used to score her country's first-ever World Cup goal from their first-ever effort on goal.
With 20 minutes remaining, the Football Ferns believed they had equalized, but Hannah Wilkinson was ruled to have been offside in the play that led to Jacqui Hands' goal.
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With Norway facing Switzerland on Tuesday, July 25, the only country without a point as of yet, this outcome has completely opened up Group A.
Having to deal with Kiwi domination from the game's first minute, the Philippines had to work hard for these three points.
The Football Ferns charged forward while spectators watched as they hurled everything they had at the Filipinas' backline.
Despite their domination, the co-hosts were unable to produce any genuine clear-cut chances to put Olivia McDaniel to the test in the goal.
The Filipinas steadily gained control of the match, and in the 23rd minute, Sarina Bolden made history entirely against the flow of play.
Sara Eggesvik regained control after having threatened from a free-kick and whipped a clever pass into the box, where a towering Bolden outmuscled the defenders to score her country's first World Cup goal at their maiden tournament.
Before the first half hour was through, both teams had half-chances. Katie Bowen missed the target with a shot, and Katrina Guillou's deft footwork opened up space on the outskirts of the area for a long-range effort that flew just wide of the goal post.
The co-hosts came out swinging in the second half, hoping to get back into the match as far as the scoreboard was concerned.
The game resumed quickly after the break, and Hannah Wilkinson was given a wonderful chance to level the score. CJ Bott curled a perfectly weighted ball into the box, and the towering forward beat McDaniel to it, but her header could only find the top of the net.
Second-half replacement Olivia Chance, who was at the center of all New Zealand's offense in the second half, set up Hands with one of the game's best passes, but she was unable to stop it when Hands' shot deflected off the post and into the waiting hands of McDaniel.
With 20 seconds left, Hands' forceful finish gave the Football Ferns hope that they had finally found a way to get back into the match. However, their happiness was short-lived because VAR ruled it to be one of the closest offside rulings we're likely to see throughout the tournament.
The home team kept trying to hit the opposition's goal, but to no avail.
Grace Jale appeared to have snatched a point at the last second just before the buzzer, but McDaniel's incredible save prevented it.
With this victory, the Philippines will be the first newcomer to the Women's World Cup in 2023.
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