Philippines’ goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel reacts following the Women’s World Cup Group A soccer match between New Zealand and the Philippines in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (AP Photo/John Cowpland)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Olivia McDaniel is hoping that the Philippines can continue its string of historic achievements even after producing the country’s first-ever win in the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The Filipinas goalkeeper supported Sarina Bolden’s first-half goal by making key stops in the latter moments that sealed a historic result before 32,000 fans at this city’s Wellington Regional Stadium.
“Hopefully this is not the last accolade that we can achieve,” said McDaniel in the post-match press conference.
McDaniel has been among the principals in the Filipinas’ rise to the global stage, starting with her two saves in the penalty shootout of the World Cup-clinching quarterfinal win over Chinese-Taipei in the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup.
But the magnitude of winning one on the global stage left no doubt already that her January 2022 heroics are now secondary.
“I think this means much more,” said the 25-year-old shotstopper, who was later named Player of the Match.
McDaniel received a trophy for the distinction, another first for the Philippines, to highlight a strong defensive showing against New Zealand’s Football Ferns.
“Being debutants in this World Cup, it can’t just be for yourself, it’s for everybody,” McDaniel said. “Every single person fought for this [win]. It’s not just a single person, it’s everybody.”
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