Photos: Courtesy of SPORTFIVE
HAI PHONG, Vietnam: Myanmar handed four-times champions Thailand a 2-1 semi-final defeat on Saturday while Australia beat tournament hosts Vietnam 2-1 at Lạch Tray Stadium to set up a mouth-watering Asean Women’s MSIG Serenity Cup 2025 final.
The countries will meet in Tuesday’s (Aug 20) decider in Hai Phong with two-time champions Myanmar booking their berth as a result of another influential performance from the competition’s top scorer Win Theingi Tun.
Wirunya Kwenkasikum gave Thailand the lead with a deflected effort after six minutes but Win Theingi Tun levelled soon afterwards with a delightful curler before converting a penalty 18 minutes from time for her tournament-leading seventh goal.
Wirunya was credited with the opener when Pichayatida Manowang’s through-pass caused confusion in the Myanmar defence and Phyu Phwe’s attempt to clear struck Wirunya on her shin before rolling past goalkeeper Myo Mya Mya Nyein.
That was the first time Myanmar had trailed at the MSIG Serenity Cup 2025, but they were back on level terms seven minutes later as Win Thiengi Tun maintained her record of scoring in every game for her team at the tournament.
The Myanmar captain found herself alone on the left edge of the Thai box after Natcha Kaewanta was unable to meet a cross by San Thaw Thaw and she took a touch before curling a right-footed effort past Pawarisa Homyamyen into the far corner.
Myanmar were given the chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute when San Thaw Thaw’s shot struck the left arm of Supapron Intaraprasit and Win Thiengi Tun sent Pawarisa the wrong way to earn her side victory.
Australia, represented by their Under-23 team, booked their berth in the decider through first-half goals from Aideen Keane and Laticia McKenna, which set up a 2-1 win over Vietnam despite Nguyen Thị Bich Thuy’s late strike.
The Australians were celebrating early as Keane put her side in front in the sixth minute, the Canberra United forward racing into the six-yard box to beat Tran Thi Kim Thanh to McKenna’s cross from the left as it bent towards goal.
By the 17th minute, the visitors had doubled their lead, Holly Furphy holding off Le Thi Diem My to deliver possession to McKenna as she strode forward, and the midfielder unleashed a left-foot shot from more than 20 yards out that Kim Thanh was unable to keep out.
Vietnam pushed for a way back into the game, and Bich Thuy saw her 88th minute shot fumbled over the goal-line by Lincoln to lift the home fans, but Australia held on to confirm their progress to the final for the first time since 2018.
The winners of the MSIG Player of the Match award for the semi-finals are:
Myanmar v Thailand: Win Theingi Tun (#7), Myanmar
Vietnam v Australia: Nguyen Thi Bich Thùy (#23), Vietnam
The final between Myanmar and Australia will be played at Lạch Tray Stadium on Tuesday (Aug 19) with the match kicking off at 7.30pm. It will be preceded by the third-fourth place match between Vietnam and Thailand at 4.30pm.
(Note: For more information about the Asean MSIG Serenity Cup 2025 and other Asean United FC events, visit https://aseanutdfc.com/ and @aseanutdfc on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.
