Sarina Bolden’s lone goal was no match as world No. 8 Japan was simply in another league after sending the Filipinas home, 8-1, in the knockout quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Games on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium. 

Despite conceding its first goal, the Nadeshiko blasted world No. 44 Filipinas in the second half to completely negate Bolden’s goal and advanced to the next round of the tournament. 

It was down to the 10 remaining Filipinas on the pitch to keep their side afloat as captain and defender Hali Long was slapped with a red card in the 28th minute for a push on a Japanese player. 

Now without Long, the Philippines struggled but continued to defend fairly well against Japan through the first half that saw Olivia McDaniel keep a clean sheet before Momoko Tanikawa opened the scoring in the 39th minute of the match off a penalty kick. 

The Filipinas continued their promising defensive efforts, but their equalizer was stalled as the first half was abruptly cut short due to weather delay, 1-nil. 

While the Philippines scrambled to keep their defense intact and put itself on the scoreboard, Haruka Osawa found the back of the net in the 58th minute to double the lead. 

Before the Filipinas could recover from the 0-2 hole, Japan extended the lead to 3-0 after McDaniel’s gamble to save the long pass inside the box ended up costly, giving Remina Chiba an opening on the right side to slot in a goal in the 65th minute. 

Three minutes later, though, Bolden took one back for the Philippines after converting a set piece off Sara Eggesvik’s corner kick on a header to make a perfect Asiad appearance for herself. 

It was also Japan’s first time in the tournament to have given up a goal courtesy of Bolden’s golden header, 3-1. 

However, Mami Ueno’s hat trick came in the span of 13 minutes as the scoreline became too much for the Filipinas to overcome, 6-1. 

The Japanese side was pretty much unstoppable at this point as Ueno came in for another right-footed goal in the first added minute of the match to improve her personal tally to four goals before Osawa finished with a brace of her own to make it 8-1 at the whistle. 

The FIFA Women's World Cup debutant concluded their Asiad campaign with an even 2-2 record including a brilliant 3-0 victory over Southeast Asian rival Myanmar.