BIÑAN, Laguna – Sarina Bolden scored a first-half hat-trick as the Philippines beat Malaysia, 5-0, to book a historic place in the women's football semifinals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Friday night.
Bolden led from the front for the Malditas in their final preliminary match in Group A at the Biñan Football Stadiumn to finish with four points, enough to seal their first-ever appearance in the Final Four.
The women’s team drew with Myanmar, 0-0, in their previous outing.
The victory capped a notable night for Philippine football that also saw the Azkals winning their preliminary match against Malaysia at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on a wonder goal by Stephan Schrock.
The Loyola Marymount product, who plays in the Swedish league with Sandvikens IF, opened the scoring from close range in the 24th minute before Alisha Del Campo made it 2-0 on a header.
The Fil-American added another goal in the 41st minute and scored on a lovely header of a corner in stoppage time for a 4-0 halftime lead.
Eva Madarang connected on the final goal of the match in the 93rd minute.
The Filipina booters will face either Group B teams Vietnam, Thailand, or Indonesia, to be determined at the close of the preliminary on December 2 in the semifinals, which will be played on December 5.
National coach Let Dimzon said the Malditas and her staff were anxious heading to the match.
“Before we started, the coaches were very tense. We were confident that we can win this game but we were not sure how Malaysia would play over the past two months,” said Dimzon.
“During the early part of the first half, we had a lot of chances. Medyo kinakabahan, masyadong erratic ‘yung mga players. We had a lot of good chances, hindi namin napi-finish.”
“Since napag-aralan na namin ‘yung mga players, the more that we have chances, mas maraming chance na maka-score kami,” she added.
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