Philippine national team makes...

the closest one was Jacqui hand’s header a little past the hour mark that actually got past Olivia McDaniel, who was a brick wall all throughout.

But after VAr review, the football ferns were deemed offside in the buildup. After celebrations in Wellington, the goal was waved off and the filipinas were ahead once again. McDaniel also provided some crucial saves well into added time to preserve the scoreline.

the filipinas thus put themselves in a good position to move on to the knockout rounds when they face World No. 12 Norway on July 30 in Auckland. they now have three points, tied with New Zealand, and switzerland.

the football ferns triumphed over Norway in their World Cup opener last thursday, July 20 in Auckland, 1-0, while the filipinas absorbed a fighting 0-2 loss to switzerland in their debut the following day in Dunedin.

the Philippines and New Zealand previously engaged in a tightly-fought friendly in fullerton, California in 2022. there, the wide-eyed filipinas, then ranked 56th in the world, pushed the No. 22 Kiwis to the limit before conceding, 2-1, on account of two second-half goals from New Zealand. (With a previous report by olmin Leyba)