Thailand scores first World Cup goal with 5-1 loss to Sweden

Thai players celebrate the first goal of their Kanjana Sung-Ngoen-branded squad at the FIFA Women's World Cup Group F match between Sweden and Thailand at the Nice Stadium in Nice, France on Sunday 16 June 2019. (AP Photo / Claude Paris)

NICE, France – Two seconds have pbaded before Kanjana Sungngoen, an unbeliever, raises her arms to celebrate.

It's really happened.

Thailand had finally scored at this Women's World Cup.

By the time Sungngoen found the net against Sweden in the first minute of the break, Thailand was already 4-0 on Sunday.

But the scoring was a triumph after the humble defeat of Thailand 13-0 against the United States. Coaches were kissed on the bench and Thai flags were hoisted into the bleachers of the Cote d'Azur.

They were still radiant after the final whistle, even after Elin Rubensson scored the last kick from the penalty spot to seal a 5-1 win for Sweden, who qualified for the eighths. final.

"Everyone was very happy to have at least scored a goal," said Kanjana through a translator. "The whole team is very happy."

Although it was only a consolation goal and the team remains at the bottom of Group F.

"It was a tough goal and playing a great team like Sweden was so important," said Thailand coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian, through a translator. "It means that all our preparation has paid off. We had a lot of chances today. This one goal made us laugh, make us smile and make us happy. "

Forget that the 18 goals conceded by Thailand match the tournament record established by Argentina in 2007. And Thailand still has to face Chile in the final of the group.

Even Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, because of the disappointment of not laundering the plate, was able to see what it meant to score for the Thais.

"We are all human beings," said Lindahl, "and after this loss to the United States, and now scoring their goal, you can feel some empathy for them."

That helped her team-mates to score four times when Sungngoen had a high pbad on the right flank and cut the ball before beating Lindahl at the far post.

The first of five Swedish goal scorers scored in the 6th minute in Nice, Linda Sembrant ahead of Warabad Boonsing.

The Thai goalkeeper managed to push back Anna Angle's shot in the 19th minute, but she did not recover the ball to prevent Kosovare Asllani's goal. Boonsing was unable to stop the strike in the 41st minute of Fridolina Rolfö in the top corner.

Just like in the game against the United States, he was 3-0 at halftime. Unlike Paris, Thailand did not concede four more times in the first 11 minutes of the second period.

In fact, it took Sweden until the 81st minute to find the net of Lina Hurtig's head before being beaten by Thailand in the counter-attack.

So when the final whistle was given, the Thai team was able to bow down to its supporters. Some pride had been restored.

"Our defeat in the last game was mbadive," Srathongvian said. "We were disappointed, but by winning one today, we managed. We must still develop and we must improve and make it better. We have to get closer to other great teams. We must play better so that we can benefit more. "

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