Thailand's national (female) football team makes historic entry to World Cup

BANGKOK, May 22 (TNA) - Thailand's female national football team has made a historic achievement by defeating Vietnam 2-1 in the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup and will, thus, join the World Cup 2015 in Canada. Nuanphan Lamsam, manager of the female national football team, told journalists that it was the first time for the Thai team to defeat the Vietnamese rival even in the latter's home country, praising the determination and great efforts of her players. Nuanphan said she and her Muang Thai Insurance Public Company Limited will reward the Thai team with five million baht, in addition to 10 million baht from the Football Association of Thailand. Nuengruethai Sathongwien, the team's coach, revealed that her players were not shaken by the capable Vietnamese team and its powerful fans and she feels grateful for all players and supportive authorities to help make the World Cup dream of all Thai people come true. Wednesday's match of the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup took place at Ho Chi Minh City's Thong Nhat Stadium, packed with nearly 20,000 spectators. Thailand first led Vietnam by 2-0, but Vietnam then scored one goal just before the end of the match. It was a playoff to find the fifth-position holder to join the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, set from June 6-July 5, 2015. The Thai female national football team's players arrived home on Thursday morning, amid a warmest welcome by their relatives, friends and fan clubs. (TNA)