Having become the first Thai head coach to achieve World Cup qualification in 2014, the 46-year-old tactician ensured the Southeast Asians will return to the world stage, and revealed her satisfaction at the achievement.

“Right now, I’m very happy,” she said, adding “we finally reached our target and our goal for the tournament.”

“Amongst the pressure and the expectation of the fans, it’s a really happy moment now that we’ve made it. We know we’ll have to play better and face tougher tests at the tournament next year. I think the teams from Asia are among the best, so if we can compete at this level, we can also play at the higher level.”

As was the case when Thailand secured qualification by beating Vietnam four years ago, Kanjana Sung-Ngeon played a pivotal role, scoring twice on a night where both sides created many chances in front of goal, and Nuengrutai heaped praised the veteran.

The success underlined China’s position at the group’s summit after they had assured themselves of a place in the tournament’s semi-finals – and a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup – courtesy of their Matchday Two defeat of the Philippines.

After a bright start at the Amman International Stadium, it was China who were the first to threaten, tournament leading scorer Li Ying unleashing a drive from 15 yards which Jordan goalkeeper Salma Ghazal did well to gather on five minutes.

The visitors were not to be denied however, and they duly broke the deadlock in the 14th minute as Wang Shuang broke into the penalty area and rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

To their credit, Jordan, still smarting from their hefty defeat to Thailand on Matchday Two, refused to buckle and they drew level three minutes later when Sarah Abu Sabbah made the most of hesitant Chinese defending to poke the ball home at the far post following a testing Stephanie Al Naber free-kick.

A degree of clam followed the early storm, although a Wang Shuang thunderbolt that rebounded to safety off the Jordanian bar proved to be a sign of things to come for Jordan as, with an entertaining first half drawing to a close, Yasmeen Khair could only deflect Ren Guixin’s shot from close range into her own net to hand China the lead once again.

 

Kanjana Sung-Ngoen, the two-goal hero when Thailand booked their ticket to the global showpiece four years ago, wrote her name into the history books yet again with a goal in each half, before Silawan Intamee reprised her role as Southeast Asia’s set piece specialist to make it three.

The Philippines, who scored a late consolation goal through Jesse Shugg, can no longer win the tournament, but the opportunity to qualify for France 2019 remains if they can win Monday’s playoff for the fifth place.

It was the type of scenario only football can provide.

Two countries from Southeast Asia playing a unique regional derby in one of the westernmost nations in the Continent to decide who would represent it at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Thailand had been there before, reaching the global showpiece for the first time four years ago, while the Philippines had never qualified, or ever seemed likely to, until their remarkable recent improvement.

 

The AFC Women’s Player of the Year scored a superb hat-trick against the Nadeshiko in San Diego last year, kick-starting a career-best run which has seen her find the back of the net a remarkable 15 times in her last 13 international matches.

With the pacey forward fresh from two goals against Vietnam on Tuesday, Sameshima says her team must keep Kerr under control in the winner-takes-all clash on Friday.

“Honestly, she’s one of the best strikers in the world right now,” she said

“I can’t let her get open space in front of her. Also, we have to be aware that number Emily van Egmond tries to find her with a lot of through-balls.”

“I haven’t faced Sam Kerr a lot, but I’ve had a lot of experience against Lisa (De Vanna) and, it’s very difficult against her, but I also enjoy the battle.”