DREAM CROWN FOR PHL FOOTBALL
Underneath a star-less sky at a historic stadium filled with the most excited, ready-to-rock audience not seen since probably the Beatles’ 1966 concert, the Philippines’ hottest sports team carved out an achievement for the ages.
To tireless cheers, claps, shrieks, drum rolls and waves from an 8,257-strong Rizal Memorial Stadium crowd, the spirited Filipinas met their date with destiny atop Asean football, showing four-time winner Thailand who’s the boss now, 3-0, in a masterclass finals performance last night.
Jessica Cowart, Katrina Guillou and scoring ace Sarina Bolden produced the all-important goals while keeper Olivia McDaniel anchored a sturdy defense that frustrated the Thais as the hosts cleared the way to the feat not seen before in the country’s 100-plus-year history in the beautiful game.
Pumped up by the electric atmosphere generated by the sea of red, the Filipinas launched a relentless attack that led to the opening header from Cowart off a corner just seven minutes in.
Satisfying fans’ hunger for “Isa Pa, Isa Pa,” Alen Stajcic’s charges delivered a second via Guillou’s low strike in the 21st minute.
The hungry hosts didn’t stop trying to score more and found the back of the net one more time through their top scorer, Bolden, who produced No. 3 two minutes before time, hiking her personal collection to a tournament-best eight goals.
When the final whistle was blown, the triumphant Filipinas streaked to the turf in jubilation for another historic moment. Holding a giant Philippine flag, the team proudly did its victory lap around Rizal to thunderous applause from an equally proud and gleeful crowd.
The AFF Women’s Championship romp on home ground followed the Filipinas’ string of successes this year that started with their historic qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Just last May, the history-making side brought home a bronze in the SEA Games, the first medal in football in 37 long years.
And the rampaging team is just getting started.