VIE 2-1 THA: Vietnam played with ‘hearts and head’, says coach

WUHAN – Vietnam coach Tran Ngoc Thai Thuan was delighted with his side's last-gasp 2-1 victory over Thailand, putting the triumph down to a battling performance from his players.

Nguyen Thi Nguyet (pictured) had given the Vietnamese a 10th- minute lead when the striker turned a defender before charging towards the box and producing an impressive finish across keeper Waraporn Boonsing and inside the far post.

Thailand levelled just after the half-hour mark through Nisa Romyen but Nguyet nicked the points for her side when she met Vu Thi Nhung's cross with an acrobatic volley that looped over Waraporn's head and into the back of the net.

“I am very happy, I think my team played very well today,” said the victorious Vietnam coach.

“Thailand are very strong but every one of our players played with a lot of heart and used their heads.”

There was some concern with 10 minutes to go when Vietnam keeper Cao Thi Loi was stretchered off seemingly unconscious following a kick to the head and had to be substituted. Happily though, she was able to return to the dressing room under her own steam, although she later went to hospital.

Thailand, on the other hand, will rue a succession of missed chances as a combination of poor finishing and Loi's resistance saw them take nothing from a game they largely dominated.

Assistant manager Trakarn Punthumlerdrujee felt the result could have been different had his side got the run of the ball.

“We played okay, almost as well as we can but we were unlucky,” he said.

“Unfortunately we were struggling because our squad had many injuries. It was not our full strength team, players were playing out of position and this squad is inexperienced, just five of our players are 19 while most of them are 16 or 17.

“Vietnam battled hard as well and their physical fitness was a little bit better than ours and they managed to nullify our technical skills and tactics with their approach.

“The game was a battle and there were a lot of injuries for both sides.”