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At Wellington Regional Stadium: Philippines 1 (Sarina Bolden 24’) Football Ferns 0. HT: 1-0
Group A points (games played): Switzerland 4 (2), New Zealand 3 (2) Philippines 3 (2), Norway 1 (2)
Jacqui Hand said she felt “amazing” after scoring what she thought was for sure the equalising goal in the Football Ferns’ shock defeat to the Philippines in their second match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But the feeling of pure joy that overcame the New Zealand’s standout right-winger was only temporary.
Once Hand and the rest of the Football Ferns team made it back to the halfway line, her heart sank.
The goal was being checked by the Video Assistant Referee.
Andrew Cornaga/AP
Jacqui Hand heads the ball into the back of the net during the Football Ferns’ shock loss to the Philippines.
At that moment Hand knew her 69th tiebreaker was going to be taken away from her and the Football Ferns would still be trailing the Philippines midway through the second half at Wellington Regional Stadium on Tuesday night.
“I thought, ‘typical,’” said Hand, who was denied by the post moments before she was denied by VAR during the 1-0 loss that has dealt a setback to the co-host’s chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
The disallowed goal was the major talking point from the match.
Hand rose high to head the ball into the back of the net after connecting to a cross from Hannah Wilkinson – the same two players who had combined for the winning goal in their impressive first-up win over Norway.
But the goal was chalked off after replays showed Wilkinson’s right shoulder and part of her head were millimetres beyond the final defender when she received the ball.
By the letter of the law, Wilkinson was offside.
Hand said the Football Ferns could have no complaints, but she was devastated her goal – what would have been her first at the World Cup – was cancelled out by such fine margins.
“Yep, that’s close,” were the first three words Hand responded with when footage of the offside decision was shown to her by Stuff after the game.
“It’s VAR. They say it’s offside, so it’s offside.
SKY SPORT
The graphic of the Hannah Wilkinson VAR offside decision, as shown on Sky Sport, Prime and Stuff.
“It’s just part of the game but it sucks, obviously. That’s what VAR is there for.”
Right-back CJ Bott had the funniest reaction when she saw how tight the offside call was. “I haven’t seen it but I hear it’s … Good God!,” Bott exclaimed.
“That’s tough. That’s a tough pill to swallow. Her foot is miles off it.
“I hate that offside rule but it is what it is. That’s the rules of the game and it wouldn’t have been a game-changing moment if we finished other chances.”
Unlike her two teammates, co-captain Ali Riley had seen the offside call by the time she made her way through the mixed zone, where reporters line up to grab instant quotes from the players as they come from the field.
Most of the questions centred around the disallowed goal.
“It’s hard but if that’s a goal that they had scored we’d be happy that offside is offside,” Riley pointed out.
“We got momentum and it felt like we deserved this goal, but we created chances after that and I don’t think the VAR call suddenly made us think ‘this is all over’.
David Unwin/Stuff
Football Ferns forward Hannah Wilkinson stands dejected after their loss to the Philippines.
“We were pushing, pushing, pushing but we couldn’t get the ball to go into the back of the net.”
The Football Ferns went agonisingly again when Philippines goalkeeper Olivia Davies-McDaniel pulled off an incredible reaction save to deny substitute Grace Jale in the dying stages.
But the World Cup newcomers survived.
The Philippines created history by claiming their first World Cup win after striker Sarina Bolden out jumped the Football Ferns’ defence to score with a thumping header in the 24th minute.
It was one of only four shots the Philippines managed and their only attempt on target.
“The soccer gods were in our favour tonight,” Bolden said.
“After that offside goal, we thought OK we really need to step it up now. That was their once chance and we cannot let it happen again.
“Liv’s stop was amazing, so big shout out to her.”
Tuesday’s loss has dealt a setback to the Football Ferns’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stages for the first time.
They play Switzerland in their final match of group A in Dunedin on Sunday.
“I think it’s disappointing but it was always a possibility [that we could lose],” added Hand.
“The Philippines are a good team and it’s not over yet. We still have a game to go and we do have three points, so it’s just how do we pick ourselves up and really go for this next game.”
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