Match 18 - Hong Kong v Thailand
6th Asia Cup Women’s Hockey Championship - Hong Kong v Thailand ( 0 : 1 )
Match Review - <Official Match Report>
Lowly Thailand today came back from the wildernessand caused a relatively major upset in the region’s hockey with a well deserved 1-0 win over Hong Kong who on ranking should have won comfortably. Hong Kong are 26th in world rankings with Thailand a very distant 55.
The Thai’s, who will host the South East Asia Games this December, have been out of international hockey for 10 years and have engaged Australian coach Tim Kelly to prepare for the SEA Games. And this has paid handsome dividends as Thailand will now face Malaysia in tomorrow’s playoff for 5th and 6th places while Hong Kong play Chinese Taipei again in the 7th/8th place playoff.
From the opening whistle, Hong Kong applied all the early pressure and camped in the Thai half for over five minutes of the game but were unable to make full use of their dominance.
This gradually let Thailand into the match and play on level terms thanks to a very good defence led by Dokkoon Seedee at the back.
With neither side able to take control of the game,Hong Kong was awarded the game’s first penalty corner in the 26th minute following a scramble in the Thai goal mouth, But Sandra Frankland’s shot at goal was well wide.
This however encouraged the home side and Hong Kong’s best opportunity to open the scoring came almost immediately after when a great cross by Frankland found Sophie Foxall unmarked. But with only the goalie to beat, Foxall shot wide.
Hong Kong kept up the pressure and managed to force two further penalty corners immediately before the interval but again were unable to convert thanks to the solid Thai defence.
With the game played in the morning’s hot steamy conditions, it was always likely that one of the sides would take control late in the match.
And that side was Thailand who managed to force two penalty corners midway through the second half without scoring.
And then in the 55th minute a defensive lapse by Hong Kong inside their circle saw hardworking Kannika Lewrungrot beat Hong Kong goalie Queenie Ho with a well taken shot.
Hong Kong desperately tried for the equaliser in the final 10 minutes but the Thai defence held firm to register a well earned 1-0 victory.
Result: Hong Kong 0 : Thailand 1 (goal scorer: Kannika Lewrungrot)