VIE 2-1 THA: Thi Nguyet brace seals Vietnam victory

Nguyen Thi Nguyet’s winner three minutes from time ensured Vietnam avoided finishing bottom of Group A with a 2-1 win over Thailand at Hankou Xinhua Road Stadium.

After Nisa Romyen had cancelled out Thi Nguyet’s opener, the diminutive striker popped up to seal the points with an athletic finish late in the piece. However, the Thais will count themselves unfortunate not to have claimed a point having dominated most of the game.

Thailand came close to taking the lead with eight minutes gone. Darika Peanpailun’s measured pass inside the full-back set Nisa away down the right and she cut the ball back to Kanokwan Tonglek but the midfielder’s strike from inside the box cannoned back off the bar.

Jiraprapa Nimrattanasing sent the ball back in and Kanokwan stretched out a leg to meet the delivery but her effort was deflected over.

The close call was all the more galling as Vietnam went in front two minutes later. Some tenacious midfield play saw Vu Thi Nhung slide the ball into Thi Nguyet (pictured) and the forward turned her defender before charging towards the box and producing an impressive finish across keeper Waraporn Boonsing and inside the far post.

Thailand threatened an equaliser and a flowing move saw the ball shifted out to Ratchanok Rattanapant in the left side of the box but keeper Cao Thi Loi did well to parry her shot.

Rattikan Thongsombut saw her follow-up blocked, which sparked a frantic scramble before Ratchanok blazed over the bar.

Nisa then found herself clean through but the midfielder attempted to dribble round Thi Loi and the keeper claimed the ball.

But Nisa made amends after 31 minutes when a deep cross found its way to the midfielder at the back post and she finished into the far corner.

Nisa’s free-kick flashed wide eight minutes after the break before the midfielder drew a smart save from Thi Loi with a downward header from Rattikan’s cross and the Vietnamese keeper again denied her at the near post following a strong run.

Kannika Boonma glanced fellow substitute Taneekaran Dangda’s corner wide after 71 minutes and Sailom Pittayanukulsup’s long-range drive was well off target as Thailand maintained the pressure but could not find a breakthrough.

There were worrying scenes with 10 minutes to go when Thi Loi was stretchered off seemingly unconscious following a knock to the head and had to be substituted. Happily though, she was able to walk return to the dressing room under her own steam.

Replacement Hoang Thi Thuong was then bailed out by her defenders following a poor punch and Vietnam stole a winner in the 87th minute when Thi Nhung’s cross was met by Thi Nguyet and her athletic volley looped over Waraporn and into the net

Sailom drilled a low free-kick a whisker past the post and also blazed over the bar from the edge of the box as Vietnam managed to hold on. 

The-AFC.com