Thailand, Vietnam dominate in second day of AFF Women's Futsal

The Philippines' Alisha Dle Campo battles Thailand's Patitta Moolpho for possession of the ball as Hazel Lustan looks to get into the play. (c/o Philippine Football Federation)

After an opening day of close and intense matches, Day Two of the 2024 AFF Women’s Futsal Championships saw the favorites flex their muscles and rout their respective opponents.

Vietnam came back from a 2-1 deficit to wallop Myanmar with a four-goal second half and a 5-2 win while Thailand crushed the Philippines with a 7-0 victory at the Philsports Arena.

The day began with Vietnam looking to make short work of Myanmar after they scored in the third minute after Thang Hang blasted the ball from outside the penalty area.

Myanmar’s Nang Seng Brim came off the bench to provide much needed dexterity and daring on the pitch to score seven minutes later and whose shot – that rebounded off Vietnamese keeper Ngo Nguyen Thuy Linh – fell the way of an open Sett New Ni for an incredible 2-1 lead that they carried all the way to the halftime break.

It was a different Vietnam that took to the pitch in the second half as they scored barely a minute into the reset for the equalizer. From there it was no looking back Bien Thi Hang’s 1v1 with Burmese keeper Chaw Sandi Aung gave Vietnam a lead they would not relinquish.

Vietnam stymied Nang Sem Brim, and put the game beyond reach via goals from Than Ngan and K’Thua.

“It was a difficult match for us,” said Vietnamese head coach Tran Van Wu who was proud of the way his team fought back. “We didn’t lose our belief and it was a matter of executing our offense.”

Speaking of offense, Thailand kicked in the afterburners when they pummeled the Philippines 7-0.

Switching their offense based on their scouting of Vic Herman’s girls, Vietnam ditched the diagonal runs and moving into spaces that they utilized against Indonesia during their opening day, 1-nil win over Indonesia. This time, through pivot Darika Peanpailun who battled the Philippines’ Isabella Bandoja all the way, as well as Patitta Moolpho who sprayed passes to Paerploy Huajaipetch, Lalida Chimpabut and others.

Sangrawee Meekham pounced on a rebound and blasted it past the Philippines’ valiant keeper Mykaella Abeto for the opening score. Two minutes later, Thailand doubled their lead with a brilliant trick play off a free kick when Peanpailun and Meekham looked to crowd the ball against the smaller Claire Lubetania and Hazel Lustan respectively. 

Right before Sawitree Mamyalee took the shot, Peanpailun and Meekham moved out of the way dragging their defenders leaving Philippine back-up keeper Samantha Hughes open at the net. Mamyalee’s well placed free kick sailed in straight to the right side of the net with Hughes unable to do anything.

From there on, it was a rout. Thailand was up 4-0 at the half after goals Huajaipetch in the 13th minute and Arriya Saetoen in the 17th minute.

Chimpabut (in the 25thminute), Meekham’s brace (29th) and Nattamon Artkla’s goal in the 39th minute as a late substitute gave Thailand two wins in two matches giving them a foot inside the semi-finals door.

The Philippines had their chances to chip away at that lead but the Pinays were unable to finish.

Despite the lopsided loss, Philippines head coach Vic Hermans remained positive. “Past teams would get clobbered in double digits. Even the men’s team lost 22-0 to Thailand. Games like this are good exposure for the girls. We have to play Vietnam and Indonesia and we will give them a good fight.”

Furthermore, despite the tough loss, it was an even bigger crowd of Filipinos that turned out and in spite of the inclement weather. And they cheered up to the end, egging the Pinays to score.

Monday, November 18’s schedule pits Vietnam and Indonesia in the first game at 4pm while Thailand look to cement their spot in the knockout phase when they battle Myanmar at 7pm.