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Football: Vietnam women get World Cup boost with SEA Games gold

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Agence France-Presse

<p>PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Vietnam&#x27;s women scored a big pre-World Cup boost on Monday by beating Myanmar 2-0 to win gold at the Southeast Asian Games.</p><p>Thi Thanh Nha Nguyen made sure of a fourth gold in a row with a curling shot in the 76th minute, delighting the large Vietnamese contingent among the more than 8,000 fans at Phnom Penh&#x27;s Olympic Stadium.</p><p>Captain Huynh Nhu, who opened the scoring in the 12th minute, said the win would serve as a boost ahead of the global showpiece starting in July.</p><p>&quot;This victory makes us become more confident when playing in big tournaments like the World Cup,&quot; said the Portugal-based forward.</p><p>&quot;It also increases the belief of the fans.&quot;</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AFCAsianCup/photos/a.138140349567045/6319081624806189/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>Coach Mai Duc Chung agreed that the regional win was &quot;a preparatory step on the way to&quot; the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.</p><p>Ranked 33rd in the world, Vietnam are one of only two Southeast Asian teams headed to the Women&#x27;s World Cup, along with the Philippines.</p><p>The Golden Stars will play holders the United States in their first group game on July 22, before meetings with Spain and Portugal.</p><p>Huynh&#x27;s tap-in was all that separated the teams after an even first half.</p><p>In the second half, Myanmar launched a number of counterattacks, but could never find the final touch, before substitute Nguyen&#x27;s handsome effort effectively finished the contest.</p><p>In the bronze-medal match earlier Monday, Thailand battered hosts Cambodia 6-0, Saowalak Pengngam and Pattaranan Aupachai with a brace each.</p><p>The other goals were from Panittha Jeeratanapavibul and Jiraporn Mongkoldee, whose 25th-minute strike made her the top scorer in the competition, on six goals.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

Vietnam's women scored a big pre-World Cup boost on Monday by beating Myanmar 2-0 to win gold at the Southeast Asian Games.