Voted AFC Women’s Player of the Year just over a year earlier, the player affectionately known as ‘Mini’ was at the peak of her powers on the road to Rio 2016, scoring crucial goals against Japan and DPR Korea as the Matildas went unbeaten through qualifying to end a 12-year participation drought.

The 27-year-old is well acquainted with the Steel Roses, having not only played against them on several occasions at international level, but also having played club football for Chinese second-tier outfit Yunnan Jiashijing during the 2019 season.

While brother Teerasil is an established J1 League star in the men’s game, Taneekarn’s only previous overseas experience came in a 2014 stint with Swedish club Ostersunds, but goals against the likes of Mexico and Italy in the 2019 Cyprus Cup, and solid showings at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France opened the door to a move north.

An added incentive for Nguyen and her teammates is that a win at the Jeju World Cup Stadium would seal their place in next month’s Play-offs, with Myanmar having suffered a 7-0 defeat to Korea Republic in the three-team Group A.

The prolific striker, who recently completed a high-profile move to FA Women’s Super League powerhouse Chelsea, is far from a certain starter when the Matildas begin their campaign against group leaders Chinese Taipei on Friday, saying the team would take no unnecessary gambles to get her into Ante Milicic’s starting line-up.

Already considered outsiders to achieve the top two finish required to advance from Group B, the Chaba Kaew’s odds lengthened considerably after they failed to find the back of the net in their opening match, but, like all goalkeepers, Sornpao doesn’t like to concede, and the American-born shot-stopper said no one in the Thai camp has given up on their Olympic dream.

Colin Bell’s side got their Group A campaign of the third round of the Qualifiers off to a great start, scoring seven goals against Myanmar at the Jeju World Cup Stadium on Monday.

Ji, who contributed a brace, however feels the team can still work on certain areas of the game ahead of their final fixture against Vietnam on Sunday.

Ting Chi’s first-half winner means another victory in either of their two remaining matches against Australia and China PR would almost certainly see Echigo’s charges through to next month’s play-off round, with a maiden Olympic qualification remaining the ultimate goal.