Bolden had to work hard for that goal. She was tightly marked by CJ Bott and Katie Bowen, and New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson got her hands on the ball, but she bobbled the catch and allowed the goal to go in.

Bolden’s goal against New Zealand was another significant moment in her career. She had previously converted a penalty against Chinese-Taipei in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup last year, which helped the Philippines qualify for the World Cup. Bolden has now scored 22 goals for her country since making her debut in 2018.

The Philippines’ 1-0 victory over New Zealand was their first-ever win at the World Cup. They are also the first debutante nation to win in this year’s tournament, and the first debutante nation to score a goal.

Eggesvik, who was credited with the assist on Bolden’s goal, was understandably emotional after the match. The Fil-Norwegian midfielder had struggled against Switzerland in the Filipinas’ first match, but she bounced back against New Zealand to win the free kick that led to Bolden’s header.

Eggesvik recalled the moment she crossed the ball to Bolden, saying, “I remember getting the ball and just crossing it … I can’t believe it.” She went on to say, “It was an amazing header from Sarina. She beat like three defenders, if I’m remembering correctly.”

Eggesvik was also quick to credit her teammates for the win, saying, “I’m so glad, this was a team effort.”

The historic win kept the Filipinas’ hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive. They currently have three points from two matches, the same as New Zealand.

Bolden expressed her gratitude to the fans who cheered her team on in the match, as well as those who supported them from afar. She said, “It’s been a long ride, it’s been a long journey. I’m just glad we were able to get this win for you all. From people back home in the Philippines, I hope you guys are happy and proud of us. We did this for you guys, and for Filipinos globally and around the world, thank you so much for your support.”