Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Kanjana Sung-Ngoen became a national hero at the last AFC Women’s Asian Cup, now, four years on, she remains the key weapon in Thailand’s attacking arsenal.
The striker etched her name into national football immortality at Vietnam 2014, scoring twice against regional rivals Vietnam in the all-important playoff for fifth, to ensure her team became the first from Thailand to qualify for a senior outdoor World Cup.
The Southeast Asians went on to perform admirably at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, finishing third in their group beating Ivory Coast 3-2 to earn a maiden win on the global stage.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Korea Republic had to overcome overwhelming odds just to reach the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, now, with two of the world’s best teams standing in their way, their biggest star is a picture of confidence.
March 2018: An English superclub takes the lead in a crucial UEFA Champions League knockout stage match thanks to a goal from their brilliant Korean international.
The above sentence could apply to Son Heung-min’s recent strike for Tottenham Hostpur against Juventus, but, in this case, it describes the clinical Ji So-yun finish that put Chelsea on the road to victory against Montpellier in last week’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
In fact, Ji has been scoring crucial goals on the big stage ever since she first appeared for Korea Republic as a 15-year-old at the 2006 Asian Games; and few have enjoyed a better vantage point from which to gauge the improvement of the women’s national team.
“I've been playing for the national team for over 10 years and we've improved greatly. We've played against many stronger opponents and I see great potential,” she said.
“I always feel confident when we're playing against the best Asian teams. We're a strong team and we have many talented players and great team work.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Hanoi: Vietnam have revealed their AFC Women’s Asian Cup lineup, naming a 23-strong squad as they embark on a training camp which will include matches against two of Germany’s strongest sides.
The 2017 SEA Games gold medallists will meet face European giants FC Bayern Munich on Monday, before facing TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, also of the Germany’s elite Frauen-Bundesliga, on Thursday in their final fixture before Jordan 2018.
Experienced head coach Mai Duc Chung pulled few surprises in his selection. Seventeen of the 23 players chosen were also present in last April’s successful qualifying campaign in Hanoi, with forward Nguyen Thi Muon, a goal scorer at the Asian finals four years ago, among the players to be recalled.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Perth: Thailand have revealed their squad for next month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup, as the Southeast Asian side target their second consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification.
Head coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian’s 23-strong squad includes a number of the key figures of Thailand’s history-making Canada 2015 campaign, including Orathai Srimanee (pictured above); the two-goal hero in the nation’s maiden World Cup win over Ivory Coast.
Fresh from three goals in as many international matches, in-form striker Kanjana Sung-Ngoen unsurprisingly retains her place, as do veteran defenders Duangapa Srtiala and Sunisa Srangthaisong.
US-based Suchawadee Nildhamrong, scorer of the goal that secured Thailand’s ticket to Jordan, has also been named, while experienced forward Nisa Romyen has missed out on what would have been her fourth successive AFC Women’s Asian Cup.