Thai Thi Thao scored a hat-trick to help Vietnam win 7-0 against Malaysia.
Coming on at the start of the second half, Thai Thi Thao scored a hat-trick in 45 minutes (59th and 78th minutes), sealing a 7-0 victory over Malaysia at the SEA Games 33; she called it a motivational gift to her teammates.
Coming on as a substitute right after halftime, just 3 minutes later Thai Thi Thao scored, opening the scoring in a hat-trick within 45 minutes to seal a 7-0 victory for the Vietnamese women's national team against Malaysia in their opening match of the SEA Games 33. The Hanoi midfielder's other two goals came in the 59th and 78th minutes.
Earlier, the Vietnamese women's team laid the foundation for victory with four goals in the first half thanks to a brace from Pham Hai Yen and goals from Bich Thuy and Hai Linh.
Main developments
Coach Mai Duc Chung made personnel changes at the start of the second half, and the effect was immediate: just 3 minutes after coming on, Thai Thi Thao increased the score to 5-0. In the 59th minute, the midfielder completed her brace before sealing a personal hat-trick in the 78th minute, ending the opening day with a 7-goal lead.
The first half saw early dominance: Pham Hai Yen scored a brace, while Bich Thuy and Hai Linh each contributed to create a 4-0 lead before halftime.
Speech and emotions
Speaking after the match, Thai Thi Thao emphasized the team's focus: "This was the first match at the SEA Games 33, so the whole team was constantly reminded to stay focused. I am very happy to have fulfilled the coaching staff's requirements and the team won."
Regarding her first hat-trick for the national team, she said: “I was lucky to score three goals. It was the result of the good play and the overall performance of the whole team. This is motivation for the whole team to look forward to the next matches.”
The midfielder revealed that he dedicated his hat-trick to a teammate who had just welcomed a new member to his family: "This is my first hat-trick for the national team, so I'm very happy and hope the whole team will have a very successful SEA Games 33."
Side details
Hours before the match, Thai Thi Thao suffered an ankle sprain during training on the evening of December 4th and had to stop training after about 15 minutes of warm-up. She was immediately examined and given first aid by the medical team. This is probably also part of the reason why coach Mai Duc Chung did not use her from the start.
Tactical angle and impact
Personnel changes at the start of the second half helped Vietnam maintain a high tempo and increase the lead. Thai Thi Thao's hat-trick, coming on as a substitute, demonstrated her readiness and ability to capitalize on opportunities, while also confirming the depth of the squad. This emphatic victory in the opening match provides a significant psychological advantage for the subsequent matches at the SEA Games 33.
Selective statistics
- Vietnam 7-0 Malaysia (opening match of SEA Games 33).
- First half: 4-0 (Pham Hai Yen scored a brace; Bich Thuy and Hai Linh each scored one goal).
- Thai Thi Thao: 3 goals after coming on in the second half (scored just 3 minutes after coming on; in the 59th and 78th minutes).
- This was Thai Thi Thao's first hat-trick while playing for the national team.
Summary of the goals
| Hiep | Player | Table number | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| First half | Pham Hai Yen | 2 | Not specified |
| First half | Bich Thuy | 1 | Not specified |
| First half | Hai Linh | 1 | Not specified |
| Second half | Thai Thi Thao | 1 | 3 minutes after entering the field |
| Second half | Thai Thi Thao | 1 | 59 |
| Second half | Thai Thi Thao | 1 | 78 |
Reaction from Malaysia
Malaysian fans expressed dissatisfaction with their team's performance after their opening match defeat against Vietnam.
