Thai Thi Thao: The pride of Nghe An football
(Baonghean.vn) - In the miracle of winning a ticket to the 2023 World Cup of the Vietnam Women's Team, there is no small contribution from the midfielder from Do Luong district (Nghe An).
In the first two matches of the Vietnam Women's Team at the 2022 Women's Asian Cup, against the Korean Women's Team and the Japanese Women's Team, Thai Thi Thao was not registered by Coach Mai Duc Chung in the competition list. Most likely, the midfielder born in 1995 had health problems. Because as known, before arriving in India, a series of players of the Vietnam Women's Team were infected with Covid-19.
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| Thai Thi Thao (number 11) in the match against the Thai women's team. Photo: AFC |
That is why it was not until the 38th minute of the match between the Vietnam Women's Team and the Myanmar Women's Team that Coach Mai Duc Chung sent Thai Thi Thao onto the field (replacing Duong Thi Van). At that time,Vietnam women's teamare currently trailing the Myanmar Women's Team by 1-0, and the midfield is not playing very effectively. This is the reason why coach Mai Duc Chung had to use Thai Thi Thao earlier than expected.
The presence of Thai Thi Thao on the field contributed to the Vietnamese Women's Team's game becoming brighter. As a result, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung and captain Huynh Nhu scored goals, bringing home a valuable 2-2 draw. With this result, coach Mai Duc Chung and his team reached the quarter-finals (one of the two third-placed teams in the groups with the best results).
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The joy of participating in the 2023 Women's World Cup of the members of the Vietnam Women's Team. Photo: Internet |
Since the match against the Myanmar Women's Team, the player wearing the number 11 shirt has always been in the starting lineup of the Vietnam Women's Team. According to statistics, at the Women's Asian Cup 2022, Thai Thi Thao played a total of 4 matches with a duration of 286 minutes, contributing 1 goal (against the Thai Women's Team) and 1 assist (for Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy to score against the Chinese Taipei Women's Team).
The above outstanding numbers do not fully reflect the excellence of Thai Thi Thao in the role of a central midfielder. It is no coincidence that coach Mai Duc Chung always considers the midfielder, who is about to turn 27, one of the most important pillars of the Vietnam Women's Team in recent times. And with impressive performances in India, Thai Thi Thao has proven her class.
If she continues to maintain her current form, it is almost certain that Thai Thi Thao will join coach Mai Duc Chung and his team in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Don't forget that up to now, no player from Nghe An has appeared in the World Cup arena. It is very possible that Thai Thi Thao will be the first case./.
