MANDALAY (20 Dec 2013) – Thailand confirmed their status as the best women’s football team in the region when they won the SEA Games gold medal after beating Vietnam 2-1 in the final at the Mandalar Thiri Stadium here tonight.
The Thais, runners-up in the SEA Games the last time women’s football was held in 2009, recovered from a goal down to win the game.
Thailand fell behind to a 33rd minute goal from Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet but they recovered to level terms in the 40th minute through Naphat Seesraum. The Thais came on with a blast after the break and hammered in the winner, courtesy of Annotsara Maijarern.
The gold the women bagged made it a truly joyous day for the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), who had earlier in the evening rejoiced winning gold medals in the men’s and women’s SEA Games futsal competitions.
The FAT are but one win away from hitting their target of a clean sweep of all four football gold medals here. The men’s football team will face Indonesia in the final tomorrow night.
The gold was Thailand’s fifth ever in the history of the SEA Games. For Vietnam, who have won the gold medal on four previous editions, the loss meant that they were unable to defend the gold medal they last won in Laos in 2009.
The bronze medal went to Myanmar who had earlier whipped Malaysia 6-0. The bronze was a minor consolation for the hosts who had lost the semifinals after an intense sudden death penalty shootout with Thailand.
In tonight’s match, Vietnam proved to be the early aggressors in the first half with their forwards wasting no time to get their attacks going.
It appeared that Vietnam were looking for an early goal, but they were unable to get their shots in. Thu Thanh Huong Le and Thi Minh Nguyet Nguyen were among the ones to miss their targets.
Then came the moment they were waiting for in the 33rd minute. Off a corner kick from the nippy flanker Thi Kim Hong Tran on the right, defender Thi Nga Nguyen collected the ball and slammed it into the crossbar. Thi Minh was quick to pounce on the rebound and nailed in the opening goal of the final.
Celebrations did not last long as Thailand were gifted with the equalizer when a defender tried to clear the ball as Naphat Seesraum closed in on her.
Luck was on Thailand’s side as the ball came off Naphat and set her on the way to goal. She easily stabbed the ball in to head to the dressing room on level terms.
However, Annotsara (pix) ensured the gold would go to Thailand with her goal in the 47th minute.
