Ashgabat: Thailand shocked defending champions Japan 3-1 in a dramatic final at the Ashgabat 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games women's gold medal match on Monday.
Thailand have won two silver medals and two bronze in previous tournaments at the Games, fired first in the 14th minute through Jiraprapa Nimrattanasing.
Both teams are unbeaten at Ashgabat 2017 and were evenly matched, however, Japan stayed goalles at haftime.
After the break, Masanori Ito’s side answered back with a 35-minute goal from Akari Takao to level the score 1-1.
But Darika Peanpailun had other ideas as she shocked her opponents a minute later with a goal to give Thailand a 2-1 lead.
Jenjira Bubpha put the tie to bed a minute before the final whistle to give Thailand their first gold in the tournament.
For Japan, their gold medal streak at the Games comes to an end.
Meanwhile, Islamic Republic of Iran made amends for their semi-final loss to Japan as they beat China PR 5-1 to claim the bronze.
The last time IR Iran scored a goal in the tournament, was against Palestine whom they beat 16-1 in their Group B opener.
Sara Shirbeigi and Fereshteh Karimi combined to give the 2013 runners-up a 3-1 lead in the first half as they outplayed their opponents to score two more after the break.
Karimi scored the opener – her fourth goal in the Games – in the third minute while Sara Shirbeigi added a brace in the fourth and 10th for a 3-0 lead.
China PR however, got on the scoresheet a minute later though defender Dong Jiabao’s effort.
Nasimeh Sadat Gholami almost made it four for IR Iran but her effort was denied by the crossbar in the 25th.
After the break, Karimi scored her second in the 21st and Shirbeigi completed her hat-trick with an effort 10 minutes later as Shahrzad Mozafar’s side won 5-1.
Results
Final: Japan 1-3 Thailand
3rd-4th: IR Iran 5-1 China PR
Source: ashgabat.com
Source: the-afc.com