MANILA, Philippines – Vietnam reasserted its mastery over Thailand, 1-0, to bag the 30th Southeast Asian Games women’s football championship last Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium.

After both squads fought tooth and nail in the first 90 minutes, Pham Hai Yen struck in the second minute of injury time in the second half as the Vietnamese dethroned the defending champions and bagged their sixth gold medal in the tournament.

Vietnam also beat Thailand by the same scoreline in the AFF women football competition in Chonburi, Thailand last October.

Earlier Myanmar rallied past the Philippines, 2-1, to bag the bronze medal, much to the disappointment of hometown fans who came to see the Malditas prevail and make history.

Down 0-1 after PH striker Sarina Bolden put the Philippines ahead in the 58th minutes, the Burmese refused to give up and stormed back in scoring successive goals through July Kyaw and Yee Yee Oo in the 78th and 80th minutes, respectively, in completing the come-from-behind.

Still, it was the best finish by the Filipinas booters in a long while since the country bagged the bronze medal in the SEAG women’s football event in the 1985 edition held in Bangkok, Thailand. (LO/IAMIGO/CNS)