MANILA — The loss of the Philippine Malditas to China kept Thailand and Jordan in the race for a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
However, it was the Thai girls who made the most of their AFC Women’s Asian Cup showdown as they trounced the Jordanian side, 6-1, at the King Abdullah International Stadium in Amman early Tuesday (Philippine time).
Suchawadee Nildhamrong drew first blood for Thailand just a few seconds into kickoff, while Taneekarn Dangda made it 2-0 in the sixth minute.
It took 33 minutes before Thailand scored its third goal from Silawan Intamee, but the team made it 4-0 just two minutes later with a strike from Kanjana Sungngoen.
Shahnaz Jebreen ended the drought for Thailand with a 43rd minute goal, but Thailand continued the onslaught in the second half via Nildhamrong’s second goal of the game in the 69th minute and Pitsamai Sornsai’s dagger in the 90th minute.
The result only means the showdown between the Malditas and Thailand will only matter in the final Group A assignments early Friday (Philippine time) as the winner will not just move on to the semifinals but also clinch a spot in the FIFA WWC.
However, with the fifth tiebreaker rule, the overall goal difference, favoring Thailand, the team can still enter the Final Four with a draw.
The losing side in the game can still make the FIFA WWC if they beat the third placer of Group B in the battle for fifth next Tuesday (Philippine time). (Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA)
