Sara Eggesvik has one factor in thoughts: Beat Norway

230725 Sara Eggesvik of Philippines in the course of the FIFA Ladies’s World Cup match between New Zealand and Philippines on July 25, 2023 in Wellington. Picture: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Sara Eggesvik let her feelings come out earlier than a throng of reporters from totally different continents after taking part in a really crucial position within the Philippines’ breakthrough win over New Zealand.

“So many feelings are going by way of my head,” a tearful Eggesvik mentioned following the landmark match the place she arrange the eventual game-winning header of striker Sarina Bolden in Wellington.

Eggesvik is entitled to react no matter manner she will be able to, because the win confirmed that the Filipinas, after laboring lengthy and onerous to get right here, proved that they’re no pushovers on this surprise-filled World Cup.

Former youth star

“I’m actually pleased with the journey we had, to organize ourselves for the World Cup. We confronted actually good groups and labored onerous in coaching camp. However we nonetheless have a variety of effort and we saved preventing.

“And out of the blue we’re right here. I can’t imagine what now we have achieved,” mentioned the industrious midfielder, whose position can be key Sunday when the Filipinas go for an unlikely round-of-16 berth towards Norway at Eden Park right here.

And that may be a recreation that would carry huge weight for Eggesvik, who was born in Norway to a Norwegian father and a Filipino mom from Davao.

Eggesvik performed for Norway’s youth groups earlier than making her Filipinas debut in mid-2022 the place she excelled within the center for coach Alen Stajcic.

Amid the importance of the sport, Eggesvik needs to be laser-sharp in desirous to see the Filipinas get one other history-achieving consequence.

“It’s particular since we are going to play Norway,” Eggesvik mentioned. “However as soon as the sport begins, I’ve to place that apart as a result of I’m taking part in for the Philippines. I’m hoping to do my greatest to assist the crew put some factors.”

Recreation-winning go

Philippines’ ahead #07 Sarina Bolden (L) celebrates scoring her crew’s first objective in the course of the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Ladies’s World Cup Group A soccer match between New Zealand and the Philippines at Wellington Stadium, also referred to as Sky Stadium, in Wellington on July 25, 2023. (Picture by Marty MELVILLE / AFP)

Eggesvik offered the help from the aspect of the field, inserting a right-footed go for Bolden’s Twenty fourth-minute rating that despatched a variety of Filipino followers who have been at Wellington Regional Stadium and numerous extra within the Philippines in bonkers.

The link-up additionally occurred in a pleasant defeat to the Kiwis in September, when Bolden scored a surprising opener off Eggesvik’s help earlier than halftime in California.

“Sara actually had a extremely good recreation and she or he’s one our key gamers,” Bolden mentioned. “I used to be speaking to her on the sphere, like we have to get the ball in and cross it broad. She did an ideal job placing that ball in, she has [done] it numerous instances and I discover the top of it. She’s been a superb participant for us.”

Eggesvik and the Filipinas are hoping to do this as soon as extra in maybe the nation’s greatest soccer recreation at this level.

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