The Thailand women's national football team concluded their participation at the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 on February 26, 2025, with a hard-fought goalless draw against Uzbekistan at the Hamriyah CSC Stadium, Dubai. Despite the match ending without scores, the Thai squad showcased their resilience throughout the match, exerting dominance over their opponents but failing to convert their chances.
This final game marked the conclusion of the tournament for Thailand, which had opened with two disappointing matches where they faced defeats against Russia and South Korea, losing 1-3 and 0-4, respectively. The Thai team, ranked 45th globally, faced Uzbekistan, who are positioned at 51st, hoping to end the tournament on a positive note.
From the kickoff, Thailand managed to maintain possession and exert pressure on the Uzbek defense. They nearly scored in the 28th minute when Chatchawan Rodthong's free kick was narrowly saved by the Uzbek goalkeeper, sending the ball out for a corner. The first half closed at 0-0, with Thailand missing several opportunities to capitalize on their control of the game.
The second half saw Thailand continue to press for goals. Their best chance came in the 76th minute when Jirapa Mongkoldhi broke free but shot just wide of the goalpost. Moments later, Patthanun Upachai made another effort to create scoring chances by sending another well-placed pass to Jirapa, but again, the Uzbek defense held firm.
Throughout the game, Thailand created multiple opportunities. They had another close call at the 87-minute mark when Patthanun’s cross found Kanjanathat Phumsri, whose header was once again denied by the Uzbekistan goalkeeper. The match concluded without goals, leaving the Thai team and their supporters hopeful but unsatisfied with the final result.
Following the match, head coach Futoshi Ikeda expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's overall performance throughout the tournament, stating, "Before this match, I thought it would be very difficult for us. Uzbekistan has many young players and plays aggressively. We aimed to execute what we practiced, but unfortunately, we could not score."
Ikeda acknowledged the experience gained from competing against international teams, noting, "The team gained valuable experience from this tournament, as did I, who observed new approaches to team management." He remarked on the significant gaps remaining to address, stating, "I’m not satisfied with our results over these three matches. We have much work to do to prepare for the next tournament."
Thanking the fans for their support, he committed to improving the team's performance moving forward.
After the tournament, the Thailand women's national team will return immediately to Thailand, arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport on February 28, 2025, at 6:45 AM. Following their return, the team is expected to regroup for training sessions during the FIFA window scheduled for April.
The participation of the Thailand women's team at the Pink Ladies Cup serves as part of their development strategy to compete effectively on the international stage. With the need recognized for improvement, the team's management hopes to engineer necessary developments to build on the lessons learned during this tournament.