On Wednesday 3rd December, the 33rd edition of the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games unofficially began, with men’s and women’s football being among the first sports to kick off the the games before the Opening Ceremony on 9th December.
This page will be updated throughout the group games so keep checking back and across socials for all of the latest updates!
Overview of the games:
Women’s football is one of nearly 100 different categories (54 sports) represented at the games which are held biannually for athletes from South Asian countries.
Unlike the Olympics, the host country has the freedom to choose the sports, which can lead to a mix of traditionally popular and regionally specific events.
For example, Kabaddi, Teqball and Woodball are making their debut at this year’s games whereas Pencak Silat is returning after being reinstated as an official sport.
Even though the first games started in 1959, women’s football wasn’t introduced in the SEA Games until the 13th edition (in 1985) which was also hosted by Thailand.
The host country were also the first nation to win the gold medal in this event and they’re continuing their winning ways with a resounding victory in their first group match.
Which nations are competing in the women’s football category?
Only 7 nations have entered a women’s football team into the tournament (compared to the 9 nations competing in men’s football). It should have been 8, however, Cambodia recently pulled out of 8 categories due to safety concerns amid tensions over border disputes between them and host country Thailand.
The 7 nations are split into two qualifying groups, with Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia making up Group A, while Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines and Malaysia make up Group B.
The top two teams from each group will make it through to the semi-finals with all games being held in the southern region of Chonburi.
Ones to watch this tournament:
The most successful women’s football team in the games’ history is the Vietnam’s women’s national team. Not only are they the defending champions but have won the gold medal four times in a row, with a total of 8 gold medals. They also hold the record of reaching the finals 10 consecutive times.
Women’s Football Schedule and Match Reports:
Group A
4th December:
Thailand 8 – 0 Indonesia:
The hosts opened their tournament with a statement 8-0 victory against Indonesia in Group A, scoring an impressive four goals in each half.
The deadlock was broken within a few minutes of the whistle as Indonesia failed to clear the area after a Thai corner. The ball then deflected off their own midfielder, and captain, Yumanda Gea for 1-0.
Another corner led to Thailand’s second, keeper Iris de Rouw initially punched the ball away before the deflection was slotted home by Pattaranan for 2-0 (despite protests de Rouw’s vision was impeded).
The third goal unbelievably also resulted from a corner and became even more chaotic than the last. Despite a brilliant double save from de Rouw, the defence failed to clear the pinball in the box and the ball found its way over the line through Silawan for 3-0.
Blink and you’d miss the fourth goal of the afternoon which came moments before half-time. The Indonesian defender Vivi was dispossessed before she could start the team’s attack, leaving Saowalak in masses of open space. She looked up to see the keeper off her line and sent her strike in from 18 yards for 4-0.
After the restart things went from bad to worse for Indonesia as they gave away two penalties in two minutes to take the score to 6-0, both of which were taken and converted expertly by forward Jiraporn.
As another corner came Thailand’s way, the ball dropped in the box just in front of Panitha who tapped the ball home past two defenders to make it 7-0.
The final goal of the afternoon came around the hour mark as substitute Taneekarn Dangda battled her way through the Indonesian defence to get her shot away on goal. Initially luckily for Indonesia, her shot was blocked by keeper de Rouw, however, Jiraporn was there once more as she’d followed her teammate into the box so was able to slot the rebound home. Not only allowing the afternoon to finish at 8-0 but also securing her first hattrick of the tournament.
*with an uneven number of teams in Group A due to Cambodia withdrawing, the matches are more spread out compared to Group B’s fixtures.
7th December:
Singapore 1 – 3 Indonesia:
10th December:
Thailand 2 – 0 Singapore:
Group B:
5th December:
Myanmar 2 – 1 Philippines:
Win Theingi Tun got Myanmar off to a rapid start as she found the back of the net within 4 minutes. The game then settled down with both sides unable to find any more joy until the 69th minute when the Philippines found an equaliser through Mallie Ramirez who went 1-on-1 with the keeper to fight for her ball to go over the line.
The battle then looked to be finishing level until May Htet Lu found a moment of magic in the 89th minute as she turned in a header from a beautifully weighted cross by Yoon Wadi Hlaing to secure the victory for Myanmar and briefly allowed them to top the Group B table.
Vietnam 7 – 0 Malaysia:
A resounding victory for Vietnam in their opening game of the tournament, as they netted 4 first-half goals in a dominant display against Malaysia.
Experienced forward Phạm Hải Yến opened the scoring within 5 minutes (after the keeper fumbled the clearance and parried it directly into her path) before securing her brace 20 minutes later. Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy also found the back of the net in between the two goals. The fourth and final goal of the half came from Hà Nội I W.F.C.’s defender Trần Thị Hải Linh who turned the ball into the back of the net on the volley for a superb first-time finish and the first half ended 4-0.
The second half began and Vietnam showed no sign of slowing down as within minutes of the restart, substitute Thái Thị Thảo side-footed in a brilliant volley from a corner to make it 5-0. Ten minutes later and the midfielder was on the scoresheet again as the ball fell to her feet from a clearance around 20 yards out. With her first touch she sent a powerful strike into the top left hand corner with the keeper powerless to stop it for 6-0.
Thái Thị Thảo then became the definition of super sub as she secured her hattrick in with just over 10 minutes of regular time to go. After taking a short corner, a curling shot dropped into the box for Thảo to head home for the seventh and final goal of the evening.
With a far greater goal difference, this astonishing victory sends Vietnam to the top of Group B.
8th December:
Malaysia 0 – 3 Myanmar
Philippines 1 – 0 Vietnam
11th December:
Philippines 6 – 0 Malaysia
Vietnam 2 – 0 Myanmar
Semi-Finals -14th December:
Thailand vs Philippines
Vietnam vs Indonesia
Gold and Bronze medal matches – 17th December:
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