Việt Nam vs Thailand in the first match of Group A of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Thailand 2019 on Sunday. – Photo the-afc.com

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam beat the hosts Thailand 2-0 in the first match of Group A of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2019 on Sunday.

The game was held at Thailand's Chonburi Stadium.

The hosts controlled the game from the get-go. But it was the visiting side who had the first chance. Ngô Thị Hồng Nhung forced Thai goalie Ponpimon Ngoenphon to show her skills in the sixth minute.

After that, Thailand replied through a Ploychompoo Somnonk attempt from distance that Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyễn Thị Loan did well to repel.

After the break, Thailand missed a goal as Chatchawan Rodthong beat goalie Loan but the ball hit the cross bar.

In the 57th minute, Việt Nam had the opener thanks to Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Ngân. She picked herself up to score from the spot after being upended in the area by the hosts’ goalie Ponpimon.

In the dying minutes, Ngân Thị Vạn Sự fixed the win 2-0 for Việt Nam.

With this win, Việt Nam are in second place of Group A, behind North Korea, who beat Australia 5-1.

Việt Nam will next face North Korea, while Thailand will take on Australia on Wednesday.

Speaking after the match, Việt Nam’s head coach Ijiri Akira was very satisfied with this result.

“We are one of the lowest ranked teams here in Chonburi, but ahead of this match against Thailand I really was hoping that we could achieve a positive result. Our players have not had much experience in this type of tournament, and you could see that in the first half. However, at the break I told them that they had simply been warming up and that they could play much better and, in the process, get a positive result. I must congratulate my players for their performances today,” Akira told the-afc.com.

While Arun Tulwattanangkul, Thailand’s head coach said: “Of course, we are far from happy with the result, but we have to remember that there are still two group stage matches to play and that we must move forward quickly and focus on those games. We lacked a cutting edge in front of goal against Việt Nam and that is something that we need to remedy before we face Australia in our next game.”

At the 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship, Việt Nam are in Group A against hosts Thailand, North Korea and Australia, while Group B consists of Japan, China, the Republic of Korea and Myanmar.

The three best teams in the tournament will represent Asia to compete in the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. — VNS