WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: THAILAND AND VIETNAM STAY ON COURSE

There are only five teams taking part this year and as such the SEA Games crown will be decided by the team which emerged at the top of the standings after the series of round-robin matches.

And following the results this evening where Vietnam held Myanmar 1-1 and Thailand beating hosts Laos 3-1, the Thais are currently at the top of the table with seven points.

The defending champions have won two matches and drew once.

Vietnam are second with four points from two games.

Against Myanmar, Vietnam held off their opponents for long periods as the capacity crowd at the National University Stadium sat entertained.

But following the first half deadlock, it was Vietnam who went in front off a Doant Kim Chi’s free kick in the 55th minute which ricocheted off the right post.

Myanmar fought back and some sustained pressure later saw Vietnam gave away a penalty which was converted by Moe Moe War in the 76th minute.

And while Vietnam are happy with the one point, the failure to score an outright win meant that Myanmar are out of contention for the top two spots at the podium.

In the meantime Thailand maintained their composure to score all three goals in the first half of the match against the hosts for them to pick up their second full points of the competition following a 3-1 victory.

Pitsamai Sornsai punished a hesitant Laos defence as early as the seventh minute for a shot past keeper Honthong Choulapanh for the lead.

But barely six minutes later, the Laos found their equaliser when Souphavanh Phayvanh ran into the Thai box to beat her marker Thidarat Wiwasukhu for a grounder well beyond the reach of custodian Waraporn Boonsing.

But the Thais were not about to be denied and in the 28th minute, they got their second goal of the game when Junpen Seesraum played it short to Orathai Srimanee who rounded off Hongthong to put the ball into an empty net.

Two minutes later, Junpen broke through the Laos defence for a well taken shot from close range to put Thailand comfortably 3-1 in front as the score remain unchanged to the end.

CURRENT WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STANDINGS

1. THAILAND 7pts (+17)

2. VIETNAM 4pts (+8)

3. MYANMAR 3pts (=)

4. LAOS 1pt (-3)

5. MALAYSIA 0pt (-22)