Vietnam at cusp of FIFA Women's World Cup berth

c/o Asian Football Confederation

Vietnam boosted its hopes of a maiden Women's World Cup berth with a 2-0 victory over Thailand in the Women's Asian Cup playoffs on Wednesday afternoon in Navi Mumbai.

Both goals came in the first half, with captain Huynh Nhu putting the SEA Games champions on the board in the 19th minute, followed by Thai Thi Thao five minutes later.

With only fourteen available players due to the COVID-19 outbreak affecting the side, the Thais were already on the back foot, eventually cracking to the Vietnamese pressure when Pham Hai Yen intercepting Warunee Phetwiset's attempted deflection towards Waraporn Boonsing and finding Huynh, who fires it to an empty net.

Vietnam doubled the advantage at the 24th minute,  as Thao headed home a cross from Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung.

They would have a chance to add another goal in the second half late, but Yen's shot was denied by the post, while VAR nullifed a goal from Nhu.

The win puts Vietnam in the driver's seat heading into their matchup against Chinese-Taipei that might just determine who gets the automatic berth for the World Cup.

As for the Thailand, a must-win matchup against Chinese-Taipei is on the cards on Friday, a situation hampered further by Kanchanaporn Saenkhun being sent off due to a red card in injury time. The defender had brought Nguyen Thi Thanh Nah whilst being clear on goal, and by incurring the offense will be sitting out her next match, reducing their current available players to the minimum thirteen prescribed by the competition guidelines.

The teams unable to secure the automatic berth in this three-team playoff are set to participate in the intercontinental playoffs to determine the remaining field next year.