Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ottawa: Thailand made history on Thursday (local time) when the ASEAN champions came from a goal down to defeat fellow tournament debutants Cote d’Ivoire 3-2 to record their first ever win in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Orathai Srimanee wrote her name in the annals of Thai football folklore when she scored her country’s first goal at the Women’s World Cup finals in the 26th minute to draw Thailand level after Ange N’Guessan had given the Africans a fourth minute lead before the Khonkaen FC forward made it 2-1 in first-half stoppage time.
Substitute Thanatta Chawong extended Thailand’s advantage in the 75th minute before Nahi Josee set up a nervous finish for Nuengrutai Srathongvian’s side when she pulled one back for Cote d’Ivoire with two minutes left to play.
“It's the first three points for our country - we are very lucky, because even though we had less attacking chances, we got our first victory in our country's history,” said Thailand coach Nuengrutai.
“We respect Ivory Coast, they played very well. We are honoured to be playing the best team in the world, Germany, in our next match, and will do our absolute best to win.”
Thailand were put on the backfoot just four minutes after their second Group B match at Lansdowne Stadium kicked off. N’Guessan made Ivorian football history with the diminutive striker finishing acrobatically to score her country’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup goal after a scramble in the Thailand penalty area.
But Thailand equalised midway through the first half when Orathai finished confidently past Ivorian keeper Dominique Thiamale after being set up by Anoostra Maijarern and then turned the tie in the Thais favour when her header, at the end of the first half, was adjudged to have crossed the line after crashing off the underside of the crossbar.
BG Bundit Asia forward Thanatta appeared to have put the result beyond any doubt when she capitalised on a defence error to score Thailand’s third just two minutes after coming on as a 73rd minute replacement for Orathai but Russia-based Nahi Josee handed the Africans a lifeline when she reduced the deficit with a fine solo effort.
However, with nobody adding to the Zvezda 2005 Prem striker’s late goal the points went to Thailand, who will conclude their group stage campaign on June 15, when they take on two-time FIFA Women’s Cup winners Germany, with the Thais travelling to Winnipeg for Monday’s meeting with one of the Canada 2015 favourites.
Photo: FIFA/Getty Images