Vietnam’s victory means Korea Republic - who defeated Myanmar 7-0 on Monday - have also confirmed their place in the Play-offs with the two sides’ clash on Sunday to determine the group winners.

Vietnam will open their campaign against a Myanmar side who are aiming to bounce back from their 7-0 defeat to Korea Republic on Monday.

The top two teams from Group A will advance to the Play-offs with the Group B sides, with the winners to join hosts Japan in the Olympics.

Voted AFC Women’s Player of the Year just over a year earlier, the player affectionately known as ‘Mini’ was at the peak of her powers on the road to Rio 2016, scoring crucial goals against Japan and DPR Korea as the Matildas went unbeaten through qualifying to end a 12-year participation drought.

The 27-year-old is well acquainted with the Steel Roses, having not only played against them on several occasions at international level, but also having played club football for Chinese second-tier outfit Yunnan Jiashijing during the 2019 season.

While brother Teerasil is an established J1 League star in the men’s game, Taneekarn’s only previous overseas experience came in a 2014 stint with Swedish club Ostersunds, but goals against the likes of Mexico and Italy in the 2019 Cyprus Cup, and solid showings at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France opened the door to a move north.

The prolific striker, who recently completed a high-profile move to FA Women’s Super League powerhouse Chelsea, is far from a certain starter when the Matildas begin their campaign against group leaders Chinese Taipei on Friday, saying the team would take no unnecessary gambles to get her into Ante Milicic’s starting line-up.

Colin Bell’s side got their Group A campaign of the third round of the Qualifiers off to a great start, scoring seven goals against Myanmar at the Jeju World Cup Stadium on Monday.

Ji, who contributed a brace, however feels the team can still work on certain areas of the game ahead of their final fixture against Vietnam on Sunday.

Ji So-yun, Park Yee-Un and Yeo Min-ji all scored braces while Lee So-dam also found the back of the net as the Taeguk Ladies began their Olympic qualifying campaign on a positive note.

Myanmar, on the other, will be hoping for an improved performance when they face Vietnam on Thursday.