Sangrawee Meekham flexed her muscles for Thailand as they swept aside Singapore, 3-0, for their second win in the 2022 AFF Women’s Asian Championship, Friday evening at the Biñan Football Stadium in Biñan, Laguna.
With the result, the four-time AFF champions stayed in second place in Group A with seven points on two wins and a draw, just below the hosts Philippines’ undefeated slate and nine points.
The relentless attempts of Chaba Kaew early bore fruit with a 22nd-minute wonder strike from Meekham. The midfielder found herself unmarked on the left flank and unleashed a shot that found the bottom right corner of the goal past Singaporean keeper Noor Kusumawati.
With the go-ahead goal, Chaba Kaew did well to keep the ball in the Singaporean half and attempted to add to the count, but the latter’s defense proved equal to the pressure until the halftime whistle to keep the deficit at one.
The margin would not hold for long as Thailand added another goal just three minutes from the start of the second period. Meekham once more stamped her imprint on the match, delivering the ball from the corner into the box for captain Tripkritta Onsamai to head into the box over the defenders and Kusumawati.
A third then came for the blue shirts at the 72nd minute as Mongkoldee converted on an opportunistic strike inside the box, sealing the win and the three points for Thailand.
Meekham tried to score her second of the night with 10 minutes still left in the clock, but Kusumawati collected the ball this time to deny the midfielder and prevent further slide for the Lionesses.
The two squads take on their penultimate opponents in the group phase on July 10.
Thailand will try to solidify their hold of one of the top two spots in the group as they take on Malaysia (0-2-1, 2 pts.) at 7 p.m., still at the Biñan venue.
Meanwhile, Singapore (0-1-2, 1 pt.) will look to get their first win of the tournament against Australia U-23 (1-1-1, 4 pts.) at 4 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Thailand XI – Phara (GK), Jeeratanapavibul, Kitirat, Phimphabut, Mongkoldee, Yongkul, Meekham, Rukpinij, Onsamai (C), Chuchun, Raksaphakdi
Singapore XI – Kusumawati (GK), Ernie (C), Umairah, Syazwani, Farhanah, Nurhidayu, Stephanie, Venetia, Dorcas, Danelle, Izzati
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Catch the entire 2022 AFF Women’s Championship live on SMART Sports and Puso Pilipinas from July 4-18.
