AFC U17 WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP #U17WAC – Group A: Thailand 2-2 Vietnam
Suzhou: Vietnam twice came from behind to hold Thailand to a 2-2 draw in their AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ Group A opener at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre Pitch 1 on Friday. Phan Thi Thu Phuong’s sublime free-kick canceled out Kurisara Limpawanich’s opener. Miricah Shealagh Murdoch restored Thailand’s lead just before the break but Nguyen Thi Thanh struck in second half added time to salvage a point for Vietnam.
01/05/2026 21:26:10
Thailand controlled the narrative from the outset and almost broke through in the 10th minute when Kurisara pounced on a loose back pass from Tran Thi An but goalkeeper Bui Phuong Thao rushed out to make the clearance.
Kurisara later tested Bui with a grounded effort from distance in the 18th minute but the Vietnam custodian was equal to it, before foiling Warittha Janya’s teasing lob into the box and then denying Pattaramon Saengta’s free-kick with a right-handed save.
Thailand eventually found the breakthrough in the 27th minute. Aunchidtha Homtago threaded a perfectly weighted pass for Murdoch, who surged down the left and lobbed the ball over Bui.
Vietnam responded in the 35th minute, Thu Phuong brilliantly curling her free-kick over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Pimlapat Aeewong into the top right corner.
Thailand, however, restored their advantage two minutes later when Pattaramon Saengta slipped a clever through ball to Kurisara, who squared for Thidawan Wangchin to apply a simple finish at the far post.
The second half saw Vietnam struggling to break through the Thailand defence with Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh’s curling effort over the bar just after the hour mark their only notable chance.
An injury forced midfielder Phan Thi Thu Phuong off in the 67th minute before Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh saw her set-piece effort saved by Pimlapat in the 85th minute as Thailand held firm to seal the points.
However, their perseverance was rewarded in stoppage time when Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh held up play deep inside the box before setting up Thi Thanh to thump home the equaliser past Pimlapat.
Both sides will seek victories on Matchday Two with Thailand to face Myanmar while Vietnam play China PR, with both matches on Monday.
Source: AFC
