Sports
Thailand Battle Back to Win First FIFA World Cup Game in Canada
Orathai Srimanee of Thailand celebrates with teammates after scoring her second goal vs. the Ivory Coast
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OTTAWA – Thailand’s women’s football team struck a blow against the Ivory Coast when they came from behind in Ottawa to defeat Cote d’Ivoire 3-2 in a battle of Women’s World Cup debutantes. It was the first victory for Thailand at this level as they came back from conceding an early goal to eke out a close-fought victory.
Thailand’s Thanatta Chawong scored an insurance goal in the 75th minute which proved the difference as Thailand beat Ivory Coast 3-2 in their Women’s World Cup opening group game on Thursday in Ottawa, Ontario.
Thailand’s group record improved to 1-1-0 with three points while Ivory Coast, 10-0 losers to Germany in their opener, fell to 0-2-0.
Ivory Coast opened the scoring just four minutes in. A corner kick pinballed in the 6-yard box until Ange Nguessan was able to get her left foot on it and beat Thailand goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing for a 1-0 lead.
In the 26th minute, Anootsara Maijarern took a seemingly offside long feed on the left wing and passed to Orathai Srimanee, who volleyed it by goalkeeper Dominique Thaimale to even the game.
Srimanee made it 2-1 in first-half stoppage time, heading home a service from Rattikan Thongsombut. The ball hit the crossbar and came straight down, but review confirmed it completely crossed the goal line.
Josee Nahi cut the deficit to one in the 88th minute, but a tying attempt by Christine Lohoues in injury time hit the crossbar and deflected out of bounds.
Ivory Coast’s Binta Diakite dribbles past Thailand’s Sunisa Srangthaisong during a Group B match at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa
Thailand’s Orathai Srimanee (L) celebrates after scoring against Ivory Coast during a Group B match at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa
Thailand players run to the sidelines to celebrate after scoring a goal against Ivory Coast during the first half of a FIFA Women’s World Cup match in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Players on the Thailand bench react after a goal against Ivory Coast in the first half of a Group B soccer match in the 2015 FIFA women’s World Cup at Lansdowne Stadium. Mandatory
