By Julia Mangmang

The Philippine women’s national football team, nicknamed Malditas, secured a slot at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after reigning supreme against Chinese Taipei, 1(4)-1(3), at the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asia Cup at the Shivchatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, India on January 30, 2022. 

Chinese Taipei’s Sū Yù Xuān attempted to score 16 minutes into the game, but was blocked by Malditas’ Olivia McDaniel. An on goal attempt was made by forward Chén Yàn Píng six minutes later, but was again denied by McDaniel. 

Both teams were tied at nil halfway into the regular 90-minute match. 

Two minutes and 56 seconds into the second half, the Malditas drew first blood as forward Quinley Quezada toe-poked the ball near the goalpost. 

Chinese Taipei’s third failed chance to score came at the 53rd minute, as defender Sū Xīn Yún’s heading attempt landed a few feet long. 

After Quezada’s shot and Sū’s missed opportunity, neither team was able to come close to scoring, until Chinese-Taipei’s defender Zhuō Lì Píng pulled a field goal at the 82-minute mark, to tie the match at 1-1. 

A 30-minute overtime was conducted to determine a winner as no country outscored the other after the 90-minute regulation period. 

More than the offense, the extra time highlighted both squads’ defense, resulting in the untouched 1-1 of the Philippines and Chinese Taipei, even after the allotted extension. 

The penalty shootout saw the match deadlocked at 2-2 as Chinese Taipei’s Dīng Qí and Wáng Xiāng Huì and the Philippines’ Sara Castañeda and Tahnai Annis landed their respective penalties.

When the country’s Jessica Miclat and Hali Long’s shots were blocked by goalkeeper Liào Wén Qí, Chinese Taipei was a penalty away from securing a semifinals berth.  

However, goalkeeper McDaniel came up with two saves and a successful shot to put the Malditas at an advantage. 

Sarina Bolden did not waste this opportunity and nailed her penalty kick, sealing the Philippine team’s win. 

Prior to this victory, neither the men’s nor women’s football teams have ever qualified for the World Cup in the Philippine Football Federation’s century-long history. 

The Malditas are now set to battle against South Korea on Thursday, February 3 for a ticket to the finals of the tournament.   

Photo Source:  Philippine Football Federation