Taiwan’s “Mulan” national women’s soccer team lost to Thailand 1-0 on Friday, failing to advance from Group C qualifiers for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan next year.
Thailand secured top spot in Group C with the win after a goal from a free-kick by striker Suchawadee Nildhamrong in the third minute at the Faisal al-Husseini International Stadium in the West Bank, Palestine.
Suchawadee just missed out on another goal when she blazed just over the crossbar.
Photo: AFP
The Mulan pressed for an equalizer, but Thailand goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing made saves on shots by midfielders Chen Yen-ping and Yu Hsiu-chin before halftime.
Chen squandered a chance on a header in the second half, while forward Michelle Pao fired a shot wide from inside the box as the Thailand defense held firm.
Taiwan began their Group C campaign in fine form with a 5-0 win over Palestine on Wednesday.
Yu led the charge with a hat-trick, the third goal on a penalty in the 70th minute, while Pao scored a brace against the hosts also at the Faisal al-Husseini Stadium.
Thailand won the opening game of the group on Monday, thrashing Palestine 6-0.
The Mulan ended the week with 1-1 record, in second place, but only the top team advances to next year’s finals.
Five teams made up Group C, but Lebanon and Guam withdrew before the qualifiers began.
In Group B qualifiers, the two Koreas faced off in Pyongyang on Friday.
It was the first time that North Korea’s and South Korea’s women’s teams met in a match in the North and was watched by a capacity crowd of 42,500 at the Kim Il-sung Stadium, AFC officials said.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Sung Hyang-sim scoring in the first half for the hosts and Jang Selgi leveling for the South in the 76 minute.
North Korea topped Group B to advance with two wins and one draw.
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