Vietnam twice came from behind to hold Thailand to a 2-2 draw in their AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Group A opener at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.
China began their Group A campaign in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 win against Myanmar, The win put China top of the group, two points ahead of Thailand and Vietnam.
Phan Thi Thu Phuong’s sublime free-kick canceled out Kurisara Limpawanich’s opener. Miricah Shealagh Murdoch restored Thailand’s lead just before the break but Nguyen Thi Thanh struck in second half added time to salvage a point for Vietnam.
Thailand controlled the narrative from the outset and almost broke through in the 10th minute when Kurisara pounced on a loose back pass from Tran Thi An but goalkeeper Bui Phuong Thao rushed out to make the clearance.
Kurisara later tested Bui with a grounded effort from distance in the 18th minute but the Vietnam custodian was equal to it, before foiling Warittha Janya’s teasing lob into the box and then denying Pattaramon Saengta’s free-kick with a right-handed save.
Thailand eventually found the breakthrough in the 27th minute. Aunchidtha Homtago threaded a perfectly weighted pass for Murdoch, who surged down the left and lobbed the ball over Bui.
Vietnam responded in the 35th minute, Thu Phuong brilliantly curling her free-kick over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Pimlapat Aeewong into the top right corner.
Thailand, however, restored their advantage two minutes later when Pattaramon Saengta slipped a clever through ball to Kurisara, who squared for Thidawan Wangchin to apply a simple finish at the far post.
The second half saw Vietnam struggling to break through the Thailand defence with Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh’s curling effort over the bar just after the hour mark their only notable chance.
An injury forced midfielder Phan Thi Thu Phuong off in the 67th minute before Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh saw her set-piece effort saved by Pimlapat in the 85th minute as Thailand held firm to seal the points.
However, their perseverance was rewarded in stoppage time when Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh held up play deep inside the box before setting up Thi Thanh to thump home the equaliser past Pimlapat.
Both sides will seek victories on Matchday Two with Thailand to face Myanmar while Vietnam play China on Monday.
China took the game by the horns from the first blow of the whistle with Liu Yuxi’s cross-cum-shot blocked by the feet of goalkeeper Saung Pwint Phyu in the sixth minute.
The Chinese forward was not to be denied a minute later, sweeping home Li Yaqi’s cutback to give the tournament hosts an early lead.
Myanmar found it tough to get the ball beyond the halfway line with further efforts from Wang Chenxi and Xu Yue only narrowly missing the target.
China’s dominance was rewarded with a second goal on the half hour mark when Yang Lan’s outswinging corner delivery was met by Zheng Niman’s head, looping the ball over Saung to land in the net.
Huang extended China’s advantage in the 40th minute, latching onto Liu’s through ball before turning away from Pin Myint Yan’s challenge and curling the ball into the top corner.
The pattern of play remained the same after the interval with Saung thwarting Yang Yuxuan’s near-post flick before Cai Xinlin’s headed effort was disallowed as Yang Lan’s delivery had already gone out.
The fourth goal came in the 66th minute, with substitute Wu Yichen curling a sumptuous free-kick beyond Saung from 25 yards out.
Another substitute Cheng Wandi was then tripped in the box by Thaw Dar Hnin, with the China PR forward dusting herself off to convert the ensuing penalty in the 72nd minute to make it 5-0.
Completing a trio of significant impacts off the bench, Ju Zhitong saved the best for last with a thunderbolt from distance in the 85th minute that flew past Saung and nestled in the net before the Myanmar custodian could react.
