Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Mandalay: Vietnam's women's national team secured the remaining place in the final round of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games with a 2-0 victory over Thailand which, coupled with Chinese Taipei’s 3-1 loss to Myanmar, saw the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosts top the table as the curtain came down on the second round of qualifiers on Tuesday.
Three teams went into the final day still in with a chance of progress and it was Chinese Taipei and Thailand, who played out a goalless draw on Sunday, that were in the both in a stronger position than Vietnam, with the duo sitting on seven points while the Vietnamese had six.
A goal in each half from Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet (39th, 83rd) saw Takashi Norimatsu’s side do what they had to do and defeat the Thais but their destiny was out of their hands as Chinese Taipei would top the five-team table if they beat hosts Myanmar in the later fixture at the Mandalar Thiri Stadium
Myanmar, like Jordan, were already out of the reckoning, but the home side was still keen to bow out on a positive note and after a goalless first half took the lead through Khin Moe Wai’s third of the campaign (67th) before substitute Than Than Htwe doubled the lead in the 79th minute.
With seven minutes left to play, Vietnam’s place in the Final Round was all but guaranteed when Chinese Taipei defender Lin Kai-ling scored on own goal, with Lee Hsiu-chin’s strike one minute into stoppage time a mere consolation for the East Asians, who had to settle for second behind the two-time ASEAN champions with Thailand finishing third.
Vietnam will join reigning Asian champions Japan, 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup runners-up Australia, DPR Korea, China, and Korea Republic in the Qualification Final Round, with the top two sides going on to represent Asia at the women’s football tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Photo: AFP