Vietnam beats Thailand to defend SEA Games women’s football title

Vietnamese players celebrate the only goal in their 1-0 win over Thailand in the final of the SEA Games women’s football tournament. — VNA/VNS Photo

HANOI — Substitute Phạm Hai Yen scored the most important goal of her career helping Vietnam win the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Sunday in the Philippines.

Yen, who came from the bench in the second half, headed straight to the net from a close range in a match that saw Vietnam beat arch-rival Thailand 1-0 to lift the gold medal in the women’s football at the biennial tournament.

There was little between the two sides, with both registering the same amount of shots, nine in total each with six on target.

Thailand thought they had taken the lead not long after the break but Taneekarn Dangda had strayed into an offside position before heading home.

For Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Van struck the crossbar and on 76th minutes, Cù Thị Huỳnh Như shot agonizingly wide.

With both sides going toe–to-toe, and canceling each other out time and time again, it was inevitable this match would need extra time to decide the winner.

Just one minute into the added time, midfielder Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung struck a free kick from the left hand side and after a mix-up in the box, the ball fell to Yến who nodded home past Boonsing Waraporn in Thailand’s goal.

It may have been Yen’s first goal of the SEA Games, but it was by far the most important she will ever score.

And to top off a perfect night, the victory puts Vietnam ahead of their bitter rivals as this was their sixth tournament win, one more than Thailand.

The win will also bring the national team nearly VNĐ2 billion (US$87,000) of bonus from the local federation and enterprises.

In the third-place playoff, Myanmar defeated the Philippines 2-1 to take the bronze medal.