The Philippines got a standing ovation from a big and loud crowd as it ended 18 years of frustration, taking down multi-titled Vietnam, 4-0, on Friday night in a semifinal battle of World Cup-bound teams of the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
It was another historic and memorable moment for the Filipinas after they claimed their first-ever triumph over the Vietnamese side since their first showdown in the 2004 edition of the tournament.
Goals struck by Halli Long, Tahnai Annis and Sarina Bolden, who knocked in two, woke up the more 2,000 Filipino fans that showed up to watch, sending the local side in a cheering and singing frenzy.
The win put the Philippines in the finals on Sunday against four-time titlist Thailand, which got past Myanmar, 2-0, in an earlier semis encounter.
Vietnam, the reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, gave in to relentless pressure put up by the Philippines’ offense, starting with Annis passing on to Long in the 32nd minute.
“This is probably the best game that this team has ever played. And (this is) probably the best Southeast Asian team that they have beaten. And so, we got a long way to go. You don’t beat a team like that and say you’re the best,” said coach Allen Stajcic after the Filipinas bounced back from their 1-2 loss to Vietnam in the 2022 SEA Games, where they ended with the bronze last May.
Long connected with a header high and above a crowded goal mouth to draw first blood for the Filipinas.
A heavily defended and physically roughed-up Bolden almost scored in the next chance the Filipinas got, and Annis picked up from her missed attempt with a penalty shot that sailed past goalie Tran Thi Kim Thanh for the hosts’ second goal.
The Filipinas, who got a standing ovation for their performance, weren’t done yet as Annis sent a corner kick to a crowded penalty box in the 61st, and Bolden headed it in as she came forward, eluding two defenders for a 3-0 lead.
Bolden made herself well-remembered by fans after Quinley Quezada moved forward from the right and did a back pass to her left.
The 26-year-old Bolden then got hold of Quezada’s pass, and then drove in for the Filipinas’ fourth goal in the 71st minute.
“One or two goals against a formidable opponent is really great. But I could not do that without all of my teammates working their butts until they dropped to the ground. And so this is a collective (effort),” said Bolden.
In the end, Bolden emerged as the most prolific scorer of the tournament with seven goals to her credit, with Australia’s Amy Sayer and Vietnam’s Huỳnh Như taking credit for five each.