Fresh from their opening day success against Malaysia, the Philippines brushed Timor-Leste aside 7-0 in Saturday’s early kick-off at Chonburi IPE Stadium, before Thailand found the net eight times against bottom of the table Singapore.
TIMOR-LESTE 0-7 PHILIPPINES
The Philippines continued their promising start to the competition with a second commanding win in as many matches, outclassing Timor-Leste to claim a 7-0 success to retain top spot in Group A.
Timor-Leste had made history in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Singapore, but they were brought back down to earth by a Malditas side full of international experience as Camille Rodriquez and Hali Long scored two goals each.
Aiming for a top-three finish or better in Chonburi, the Philippines went ahead in just the fifth minute when Quinley Quezada followed up to volley home after an initial effort had hit the woodwork, and there was a similar sequence for the second goal, which Sara Castańeda headed in eight minutes later.
Having scored twice in Thursday’s 3-0 win over Malaysia, Rodriguez added to her haul with a header in the 23rd minute, and again exploited Timor-Leste’s inability to handle crosses when she scooped home her fourth of the tournament, and her team’s fourth of the match, just before half-time.
The Philippines swapped into white shirts at half-time but the new-look Malditas were just effective after the break, with Long converting a penalty for goal number five in the 62nd minute after a foul by Trifonia Mesquita, then adding another one 14 minutes later from a corner kick.
Timor-Leste’s difficulty in defending balls from wide areas was exposed one final time in the second minute of added time, with Charisa Lemoran pouncing on indecision in the heart of defence as the Philippines earned their four-day rest ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures.
SINGAPORE 0-8 THAILAND
Tournament hosts Thailand began their campaign in fine style, cruising past Singapore as Wilaiporn Boothduang scored a hat-trick in an 8-0 win.
Having sat out the five-team Group A’s first Matchday on Thursday, the defending champions gave the rest of the competition a reminder of their quality with a professional display against a side 84 places below them in the world rankings.
In their first match under Naruephon Kaenson, Thailand’s new coach didn’t have to wait long for his side’s first goal, with Boothduang’s deflected effort putting them in front in just the third minute.
With many of their FIFA Women’s World Cup players present, albeit with some of their major attacking weapons rested, Thailand created a succession of chances against the outmatched Singaporeans while the visitors sought to make life difficult for the tournament favourites.
To some extent, at least early on, they succeeded, with Rattikan Thongsombut’s 30th-minute header and a 25-yard rocket from former futsal international Orapin Waenngoen the only additional goals in the opening 45 minutes.
The woodwork came to Singapore’s aid more than once in the early stages of the second half, before Botthduang finally added the seemingly inevitable fourth goal when Thailand put together one of the best moves of the match in 67th minute.
Pengnam Saowalak clipped in a lovely fifth five minutes later, before Singaporean goalkeeper Noor Kusumawati had a moment to forget when her error allowed Irravadee Makris to add to the tally three minutes later.
Now in total control, Thailand scored a nicely-crafted seventh through substitute Nutwadee Pram-Nak in the 83rd minute, before Boothduang completed her hat-trick in injury time as the hosts got up and running with a straight-forward win.
Thailand will be expected to continue their winning start when they meet Timor-Leste on Monday, while Singapore’s search for a win continues against neighbours Malaysia.
Sunday’s fixtures (all times local): Indonesia v Vietnam (15:00), Cambodia v Myanmar (18:00).
Photos: Football Association of Thailand
