Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian backed her injury-hit Thailand side to overcome their absentees and put on a improved performance in the their second AFC Women’s Asian Cup group stage game against Korea Republic on Saturday, following Thursday’s disappointing 7-0 reverse to China in their Group B opener at Thong Nhat Stadium.
Nuengrutai saw both her first-choice central midfielders leave the field with injuries in the first-half against the eight-time champions, as first Ainon Phancha was stretchered off midway through the half and then Naphat Seesraum limped from the pitch in the closing minutes remaining before the interval.
Thailand’s woes were compounded as shortly after Naphat was replaced China scored their fourth through Yang Li to put the tie beyond them. And they now face no easy task when they come up against Yoon Deok-yeo’s Korea Republic side, who crushed Myanmar in a 12-0 thrashing in Group B’s other first round tie.
“We have to check on the condition of our two injured midfielders to see if they will be fit for the game against Korea Republic as we just don’t know yet the severity of their condition,” said Nuengrutai (pictured).
“However, we have good replacements for those players if we need to use them so I’m sure they will do a good job too and we will aim to raise our game.
“Of course, facing Korea will be a difficult prospect as they are very good team, just like China, and we will have to check on all our players conditions before the tie.
“We will try and implement a defensive strategy and look to hit them on swift counter-attacks.”
Coach Yoon, meanwhile, is taking nothing for granted despite Korea Republic’s heavy victory in their opening tie over Myanmar.
“The opponent doesn’t matter as they are all hard teams in this tournament, once you get to the finals of any competition every side deserves to be there, so we will not be complacent against Thailand,” said Yoon, who cited the physical rigours of the tournament as a larger concern.
“The weather here in Vietnam is very different to Korea with the heat and humidity and, in addition, there’s only one rest day. So, we will have to look and see how we prepare and how we maximize the rest day which will determine how we do against Thailand.