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Thailand edges Vietnam in extra time at AFF Women's Championship semifinal

Xinhua, May 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

A Thai veteran striker made a double in the second semifinal against Vietnam at the 2015 AFF Women's Championship here Friday evening, putting her squad to the final.

Supported by thousands of fans who continuously chanted "Vietnam, Vietnam" at the Thong Nhat Stadium, Vietnamese players, whose formation was 4-4-2, deployed many furious assaults to the Thai goal line. In the 30th minute, Vietnamese half-backer Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung implemented a corner kick with her left leg; her teammate, half-backer Nguyen Thi Lieu, jumped higher than all others to make a thunderous high header, beating Thai goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing. After the opening goal, Vietnamese players missed several scoring chances, and the 1-0 lead for Vietnam was the first half's result.

Seven minutes after the break, latching onto a long pass from the mid-field, racing past two Vietnamese defenders, Thai 25 year-old striker Nisa Romyen delivered a low shoot, creating an equalizer. If Vietnamese veteran goalie Dang Thi Kieu Trinh had actively moved forward, she could have managed to block the shoot.

After the equalizer, Vietnam launched some blitz attacks, and in the 68th minute, Tuyet Dung drove the ball right to the crossbar, while the Thai 20-year-old goalie Boonsing almost stood still. Ten minutes later, in a chaotic situation in the goal box, Vietnamese striker Huynh Nhu kicked the ball, making it gradually roll toward the goal. However, goalie Boonsing plunged to the ground to snatch the ball timely.

In the extra time, both Vietnamese and Thai players slowed down, deploying cautious tactics. However, Thai players looked physically stronger, with some amazing quick steps towards Vietnamese goalkeeper Kieu Trinh.

Two minutes into the extra time, goalie Boonsing fiercely served the ball to the Vietnamese side's penalty area. As quick as lightning, striker Romyen received the ball, and kicked it over the head of goalie Kieu Trinh, making a double and fixing the final score at 2-1.

After the match, Thailand's head coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian said: "I thought that we were lucky." Vietnam's head coach Takashi Norimatsu said: "We might not have beaten Thailand today but that does not mean we cannot beat them in the future."

With the hard-fought victory over Vietnam, Thailand will vie for the crown on Sunday evening in the final against Myanmar. Meanwhile, Vietnam will take on Australia U-23 for the third place.

Thailand, visiting Australia U-20, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and the Philippines have vied for title of the 2015 AFF Women's Championship from May 1-10. Japan bagged home the trophy in the previous edition in 2013. Endi