Report from Singapore Hockey Federation

Seventh heaven as Thailand ends HWL Round 1 on a high

It is proving to be a good Thai year for the Southeast Asian kingdom's women's team, as they sealed top spot by beating a tired Hong Kong SAR side 7-0 to qualify for the next round of the Hockey World League.

In a match where both teams were equally matched in terms of commitment and desire to win, it was the skill of the Thai team that eventually was the difference in their dominant win.

Hong Kong SAR managed to earn a penalty corner early in the first half, but Tiffany Chan's conversion shot was wide. At the other end of the pitch, Thailand's attackers earned their country a penalty corner but this was scrambled clear by Hong Kong SAR defence.

Thailand made the breakthrough in the 12th minute of the game after good work by captain Tikhamporn Sakunpithak to split the Hong Kong SAR defence and allow her teammate Kornkanok Sanpoung to put the ball past Yip Ting Wai.

Thailand would extend their lead to 2-0 just a minute later when the Hong Kong SAR defence were not able to close down Sakunpithak from shooting and scoring from inside the D.

As the half progressed, Thailand confidently employed a high pressing game and displayed good anticipation, resulting in their easy interception of Hong Kong SAR's passes and forcing the Hong Kongers back into their own half.

Thailand would get another goal before the break after good vision by captain Sakunpithak to thread the ball into the D, allowing Sanpoung to pop up and fire a powerful shot past the Hong Kong custodian.

Hong Kong SAR would get a chance to push into the Thailand penalty area in the very last minute of the half, but the Thai defence was able to anticipate their moves and prevent them from getting into a good goalscoring position.

Thailand came out with all guns blazing in the the second half, pegging Hong Kong SAR in their own half once again and constantly trying to find more space to score.

They wouldn't have to wait long. Sakunpithak would find herself on the scoresheet again after her teammates were able to pour forward into the Hong Kong SAR D to cause problems.

Substitute Pawinee Boonkrajang also found herself on the scoresheet in the 52nd minute after Supansa Samanso laid off the ball to her to score during a penalty corner.

Hong Kong SAR found a rare attacking chance through Lau Pui Sze, who managed to break with the ball down the left side of the field in the 56th minute and force Thailand to concede a short corner.

However, they were unable to find any space in a compact Thai defence to score, and the end result was that in the 59th minute Thailand could counter-attack, earn a penalty corner at the Hong Kong end, and score through Praphatson Khuiklang's powerful effort.

As the game drew to a close, Hong Kong SAR continued to pour players forward as they sought to score their first goal, but as usual, they found it hard to get past a well-organised Thai defence.

It was déjà vu all over again as the Thais mustered their speed for a counter-attack which – thanks to careless defending by Hong Kong SAR- earned a penalty corner in their opponent's D in the 65th minute.

Would you have guessed who would pop up to grab the final goal? Up stepped Khuiklang to score with a powerful effort, sealing a magnificent 7-0 win against Hong Kong SAR.

With that win, Thailand finished at the top of the group and will play in Round 2 next year. Captain Tikhamporn Sakunpithak would also end the tournament as top scorer with 13 goals.

Hong Kong SAR may have lost this match by a big margin but they should be proud of their efforts in this tournament, especially the heroic 1-1 draw against favourites Kazakhstan on 14 April.