Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Thailand reached the AFC Women’s Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time in 32 years, securing qualification for a second successive FIFA Women’s World Cup in the process, as they outclassed the Philippines to win 3-1 on Thursday.
Kanjana Sung-Ngoen, the two-goal hero when Thailand booked their ticket to the global showpiece four years ago, wrote her name into the history books yet again with a goal in each half, before Silawan Intamee reprised her role as Southeast Asia’s set piece specialist to make it three.
The Philippines, who scored a late consolation goal through Jesse Shugg, can no longer win the tournament, but the opportunity to qualify for France 2019 remains if they can win Monday’s playoff for the fifth place.
It was the type of scenario only football can provide.
Two countries from Southeast Asia playing a unique regional derby in one of the westernmost nations in the Continent to decide who would represent it at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Thailand had been there before, reaching the global showpiece for the first time four years ago, while the Philippines had never qualified, or ever seemed likely to, until their remarkable recent improvement.
www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup/photo/album_thailand_v_philippines_-_wac2018.html
ALBUM: Thailand v Philippines - #WAC2018