PH Malditas stun Jordan

Sarina Bolden scored a go-ahead goal in the 76th minute and the Philippine Malditas came from behind to upset host Jordan, 2-1, early yesterday for a stunning start to their campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup at the Amman International Stadium.

Bolden, a 22-year-old standout at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, received a long ball courtesy of Maria Park before firing a low attempt from the center of the box that enabled the Malditas to hand Jordan a shock defeat in the first match of the continental competition.

Not only did the Malditas surprise the rest of the field by gaining the maximum three points, they also put themselves on the cusp of doing the unthinkable of advancing to the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.

The national squad, coached by Frenchman Rabah Benlarbi, has two chances to pull off the trick with two matches remaining in Group A, beginning tomorrow night against China and on Thursday against Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand.