In a thrilling encounter at the UEFA Friendship Cup 2025, the Thailand U20 women’s football team faced off against Colombia U20 on April 3, 2025, at the National Football Training Center in Turkey. The match ended in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, with Colombia emerging victorious 4-1 on penalties.
Thailand came into this match after a narrow 0-1 defeat against the host nation, Turkey, while Colombia had previously triumphed over Zambia via penalties after a goalless draw. The stakes were high for both teams as they sought to improve their standings in the tournament.
The match kicked off with both teams showcasing their attacking prowess, but it was Thailand who had the first significant chance. In the 9th minute, Vivian Deether attempted a long-range shot from outside the penalty area, but the ball was comfortably saved by the Colombian goalkeeper.
Thailand continued to press forward, and in the 25th minute, they came close again when Madison Castine broke down the left flank, delivering a cross to Kesarin Boonmatun, whose shot was blocked on the line by a Colombian defender.
However, it was Colombia who struck first. In the 42nd minute, Maria Aliaga unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that found the back of the net, giving Colombia a 1-0 lead just before halftime.
As the second half commenced, Thailand faced further challenges. Just five minutes in, Yanasit Srisuwan fouled a Colombian player in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick for Colombia. Brenda Michel stepped up to take the penalty, but her shot was brilliantly saved by Thai goalkeeper Chatchai Panyarung, keeping Thailand in the game.
Despite the setback, Thailand continued to push for an equalizer. In the 85th minute, Phachara Kueachai nearly leveled the score with a shot that narrowly missed the target, hitting the side netting.
Finally, in a dramatic turn of events during stoppage time, Thailand found their equalizer. In the 90+1 minute, Rinyaphat Mooldong delivered a corner kick that was met by Phinyapat Klinklai, who struck the ball into the net with a right-footed shot. The stadium erupted as Thailand leveled the score at 1-1.
With the match tied after 90 minutes, the outcome would be decided by penalties. In the shootout, Colombia displayed composure and precision, converting four of their five attempts. Thailand, on the other hand, managed to score only once, leading to a final penalty score of 4-1 in favor of Colombia.
Head coach Naruethai Sarathwong expressed pride in her team's performance despite the loss. "We showed great resilience and determination today, especially coming back to equalize late in the game. We will learn from this experience and aim to perform better in our next match against Zambia," she said.
Looking ahead, Thailand's U20 team is set to face Zambia U20 on April 6, 2025, at 15:30 local time. The match will also take place at the National Football Training Center and will be broadcast live on YouTube via UEFA and the Turkish Football Federation.
Thailand's starting lineup for the match included: Chatchai Panyarung (GK), Manthakan Khongmaeng, Phinyapat Klinklai, Rinyaphat Mooldong (C), Vivian Deether, Yulee Kirdnimit, Kesarin Boonmatun, Nachonok Kosolsakdisakul, Yanasit Srisuwan, Theeraphat Khachin, and Suthita Kammat.
As the tournament progresses, the Thai U20 squad is determined to build on their experiences and improve their performance, aiming for a strong showing against Zambia in their upcoming match.
