FILIPINAS SNAPS DECADES-LONG MEDAL DROUGHT WITH WIN OVER MYANMAR
After 37 years, the Philippine women’s football team finally stepped onto a podium after trouncing Myanmar, 2-1, to bag the bronze medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Saturday at the Cam Pha Stadium in Quang Ninh, Vietnam.
Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada kicked in the historic goals that gave them the breakthrough bronze medal win after decades of waiting since its SEA Games medal in 1985, also a bronze, when there were only three competing teams in the tournament.
Filipinas had to endure a slow start as the Burmese got on the scoreboard first capped by a Win Theingi Tun penalty at the 24th minute.
However, the Burmese scorer was subbed out in the 35th minute after suffering an injury.
But it did not shatter the spirits for the Filipinas as Bolden got past two defenders to receive a through ball from Carleigh Frilles and scored the equalizer at the 73rd-minute mark.
Three minutes later, Bolden set up a crucial play and found Quezada for a beautiful left-footed strike from inside the box to beat Myanmar’s keeper May Zin New, 2-1.
From there, the Filipinas tightened their defense, protecting its lead to finish a historic feat in the 31st SEA Games.
The Philippines exacted revenge on Myanmar as the Burmese managed to pull off a come-from-behind win from a 0-1 deficit with two quick goals in the 78th and 80th to capture the bronze in the 2019 SEA Games at Rizal Memorial Stadium.