Thailand Crushes Indonesia in Women's Football Tournament Opener
CHONBURI, Thailand - The quest for gold in the Women's Football competition at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 2025) began dramatically on Thursday, December 4, 2025. In the highly anticipated opening match, host nation Thailand delivered a ruthless performance, overpowering Indonesia with an emphatic 8-0 victory at the Chonburi Stadium.
Playing in front of their home crowd in the heart of Thai football, the Chaba Kaew (Thailand's national women's team) wasted no time in asserting their status as one of the tournament favorites. The technical superiority and tactical cohesion of the Thais proved too much for the Indonesian side, Garuda Pertiwi, who were hoping to cause an upset on the opening night.
Thailand's forward line was clinical, breaking down Indonesia's defense repeatedly with swift passing and sharp off-the-ball runs. The host nation took an early lead and never looked back, with goals coming from across the squad, highlighting their formidable depth.
A standout performance came from veteran striker Kanjana Sung-ngoen, who led the attack with relentless pressure, contributing a brace of goals. The entire squad was credited for a commanding display, which saw them enter the half-time break with a significant lead and continue their dominance into the second half.
The final whistle confirmed the 8-0 scoreline, handing Thailand a massive boost to their goal difference in Group A and sending a clear warning to their regional rivals.
For the Indonesian Women's National Team, led by coach Akira Higashiyama, the match served as a difficult reminder of the challenges ahead. Despite the presence of newly integrated diaspora players and intensive pre-tournament preparation, the team struggled to cope with Thailand's relentless attack and experience.
Indonesia's focus will now shift to their next crucial Group A match against Singapore on Sunday, December 7, where they must secure a positive result to keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive.
Meanwhile, Thailand will take a commanding lead in Group A's standings as they enjoy a rest day before facing Singapore next week. The Women's Football tournament promises more excitement, with Myanmar taking on the Philippines in the next Group B fixture at the same venue.