China defeated Thailand 6-0 to complete a perfect AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Group A campaign at home yesterday. Meanwhile, Vietnam also booked their place in the quarter-finals after defeating Myanmar 2-1 at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.
The hosts’ reward will be a quarter-final against either the third-placed side from Group B or C while Thailand will have to wait to see if they progress after Vietnam beat Myanmar to finish second in the group.
China offered a glimpse of what Thailand could expect within the opening seconds with Wang Chenxi slaloming her way in from the left flank and firing a shot that had to be pushed away by Pimlapat Aeewong.
The hosts took the lead four minutes later after Yang Lan’s corner delivery came back to her and with her second attempt, looped the ball beyond Pimlapat to land in the far top corner.
The second came in the 20th minute when Cheng Wandi’s shot was blocked by Arisa Tamsakul but the ball flew kindly into the path of Li Qixian, who slid it home at the back post.
A struggling Thailand went further behind three minutes later as Cheng powered home a header from Xu Yue’s cross.
Head coach Thidarat Wiwasukhu changed two players at the half hour mark with Suracha Tanawat and Kawinthida Kikuntod brought on, with Thailand displaying more defensive resilience as China could not add to their haul going into the break.
China PR maintained their superiority after the interval as Thailand were caught cold, conceding three goals in the space of six minutes.
Li grabbed her second in spectacular fashion, volleying Xu’s pinpoint cross from the left to make it 4-0 in the 54th minute.
Then came second-half substitute Huang Qinyi’s show, getting her first in the 58th minute when Pimlapat let her stinging shot from outside the box slip through her grasp.
Huang produced a stunning effort two minutes later, using her speed and power to burst away from two Thai defenders before firing the ball high into the roof of the net.
Meanwhile, the win meant Vietnam finished second in Group A behind China, edging Thailand on goal difference after both sides ended with four points.
Myanmar tested Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Thi Cam My as early as the second minute with an effort from just above the area before Shin Thant Phyu Sin Pyone tried her luck from distance three minutes later.
Vietnam were put under pressure again in the seventh minute with Thi Cam My foiling Thae Ei Hlaing’s charge inside the box before responding quickly to deny May Thinzar’s wayward shot.
The missed chances came back to haunt Myanmar in the 18th minute when Nguyen Thi Linh Chi struck a brilliant free-kick, with the ball swerving over the wall and past rooted goalkeeper Saung Pwint Phyu.
Myanmar tried to respond but Thi Cam My was at her best to deny Nguyen Thi Minh Anh in the 22nd minute before Shin Thant Phyu Sin Pyone hit a tame effort just before the half-hour mark, leaving Vietnam with a slim advantage going into the break.
Myanmar’s hopes of restoring parity suffered a setback in the 55th minute after Vietnam doubled their lead with another curling free-kick, courtesy of Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh I, who bent her delivery into the top right corner.
Myanmar pulled one back in the 66th minute after Vietnam failed to deal with Chit Pwint Aung’s dangerous cross into the box, leaving Shin Thant Phyu Sin Pyon to lay the ball for Thaw Dar Hnin’s thumping finish.
A second goal, however, eluded them as Vietnam stayed firm to advance to the knockout stage for the first time while Myanmar ended their campaign with three defeats.
