Chonburi: Chaba Kaew, the Thai women’s national football team, suffered a setback as they lost to the Philippines on penalties, missing out on a coveted spot in the SEA Games gold medal match. The intense semi-final clash took place at the 33rd SEA Games, held at Chonburi Stadium, where a thrilling encounter saw the teams locked in a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.
According to Thai News Agency, the match remained goalless in the first half, with both teams striving for dominance. It was in the 53rd minute of the second half when Thailand broke the deadlock. A defensive error by the Philippines, failing to clear a pass from Pluemjai Sonthisawat, allowed Jiraporn Mongkoldee to seize the opportunity. Mongkoldee skillfully volleyed the ball into the far post, giving Thailand a 1-0 lead.
However, the lead was short-lived. In the 87th minute, Thailand conceded a penalty after Panitta Chiratanabhavibul was penalized for a handball. The Philippines’ Guy Jael Marie stepped up to take the spot-kick and successfully converted it, leveling the score at 1-1. The match proceeded to extra time, but neither side managed to find the net, leading to the decisive penalty shootout.
In the shootout, the Philippines demonstrated precision and composure, scoring four penalties compared to Thailand’s two. This ensured a 4-2 victory for the Philippines, securing their spot in the gold medal match against Vietnam. Meanwhile, Thailand is set to compete for the bronze medal against Indonesia on December 17th at 3:30 PM.