Sarina Bolden scores brace as Filipinas beat Jordan in Pink Ladies Week

The Philippine women’s national football team Filipinas returned to action in dominant style following a 3-0 romp of Jordan in the Pink Ladies Week 2024 in Antalya, Türkiye on Saturday night (Philippine time). 

After six months without competition, the Filipinas are looking to make necessary and significant improvements in their first camp together with a couple of debuting talents.

Filipinas forward Sarina Bolden, who has recently made her club appearance in the Italian Serie A with Como Women, opened the floodgates with a header right at the second minute of the match to eventually deliver a brace off a spot kick in the second half. 

The 39th-ranked Filipinas, courtesy of Olivia McDaniel's brilliant save in the second half, kept a clean sheet throughout the match despite some brief instances of pressure from the world No. 74 Jordan side. 

Newcomer 24-year-old Janae DeFazio kicked off her international career with a reliable assist to Bolden in the second minute of the match to showcase a glimpse of what is to be expected of Mark Torcaso’s refined roster. 

After about an hour on the field, Bolden found her scoring touch at the 68th minute after converting a spot kick as she was fouled by Jordan's Ayah Al-Majali which gave the Philippines a cushion heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation. 

However, the 28-year-old Bolden was done for the day as she was subbed out three minutes later before she could complete a possible hat-trick. 

In the 77th minute, the Philippines earned its second spot kick as Quinley Quezada was undercut by Jordan skipper Maysa Jbarah. 

Then it was Katrina Guillou who took matters into her own hands and made the penalty count with a powerful right-footed shot past keeper Rawand Kassap. 

“This is going to take a little bit of time to build what we want. We got the playing style and how we want to go about it. I think the really important part is we got the win. We haven’t played for a good six months, and to get a win against a good opponent. Glad for Sarina, glad for our team for really getting a good result,” said Torcaso post match. 

The Pink Ladies Week will run until the 30th, with the Philippines taking on Kenya at the same venue.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News