Having lost their opening fixtures, both Ivory Coast and Thailand – who are two of the lowest-ranked in the competition – were desperately searching for a win which could see them enter the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.
With a far superior goal difference to their African opponents, Thailand already had the upper hand after only conceding 4 against Norway, compared to the 10-0 demolition the Ivory Coast suffered against two-time World Cup winners Germany.
With a FIFA ranking of 67th, any kind of progression from the Ivory Coast would be a major surprise, especially having suffered such a set-back in their opening game. However, it was African side who took an early lead in this double-or-nothing game against Thailand, Ange N’Guessan scoring after 4 minutes to thrust her side into third place in the group for the time being.
Thailand’s first women’s World Cup goal didn’t take long to come though, as Orathai Srimanee latched onto a cross from Anootsara Maijarern to equalise for her side.
Right on the stroke of half time, Thailand’s goal difference lead over their Group B rivals was swapped for a point’s difference as Srimanee scored her second of the game with a header from a Rattikan Thongsombut cross. It saw her side move three points clear of their opponents as Ivory Coast remained rooted to the bottom of the table with a -11 goal difference despite their glorious chance seconds later to equalise through striker Ines Nrehy who missed an open goal from close range.
Things did not improve for the 6th best African women’s team either, as with 15 minutes to go, Thanatta Chawong scored Thailand’s third World Cup goal with a header to extend her side’s lead to two goals. Maijarern picked up her second assist of the game.
With seemingly no way back, and being knocked out in the group stages looking almost certain, Josee Nahi found the bottom left corner to bring the score to 3-2 with only minutes left on the clock. The Ivorians had a slim glimmer of hope that their World Cup dream might not be over, but it wasn’t to be enough, as despite valiant efforts from the African team in the dying embers of the game – including a fierce effort from Christine Lohoues which hit the bar in the second minute of stoppage time – the match finished 3-2 to Thailand.
An equaliser for the Ivory Coast would have seen them in with a slim chance of progression as the best third-placed team, but now Thailand will be hopeful of a strong performance against Germany to qualify for the knockout stages themselves. With a current goal difference of -3 and 3 points on the board, they could be in a much worse position in Group B.
