Thailand and Senegal fought out a highly entertaining 1-1 draw at Waikato Stadium on February 21, both teams putting the disappointment of missing out on the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals behind them to produce a lively affair in front of 711 enthralled spectators. It took Senegal just 95 seconds to fire the first shot in anger, Nguenar Ndiaye's driven cross-shot being smothered at the near post by Chotmanee Thongmongkol, whose resulting clearance wasn't exactly confidence-inspiring. Nor was the form of her opposite number, Tenning Sene, who was beaten by Ploychompoo Somnuek's cross to the near post, having been sent through to the by-line by Jiraportn Mongkoldee in the fifth minute. Janista Jinantuya was also beaten by the delivery, which ricocheted off a retreating defender towards the net. Thankfully for Senegal, Mareme Babou was on hand to clear off the line, although she blotted her copybook soon afterwards, picking up an eighth minute booking after a wild and reckless aerial challenge which flattened Pattaranan Aupachai, not long after she had delivered a teasing cross which Sene spilled. Mongkoldee was caught off balance by the error and was unable to capitalise. Sene tipped a speculative forty-yarder from the eye-catching Nutwadee Pram-Nak - quality player who reads the game brilliantly - over the bar in the thirteenth minute, to which her team-mates responded with shots from Mama Diop and Meta Camara which were blocked by Supapron Intaraprasit and Phonphirun Philawan respectively. Thailand responded with a counter-attack, but Sene snuffed it out and played the ball to Camara. She was caught in possession by Mongkoldee, however, the striker scooting clear before setting up Jinantuya to steer the ball into the bottom far corner of the net and open the scoring. The goal brought out the reckless nature of the Senegalese players, with Babou - already on a booking - flattening Jinantuya, then earning a final warning from Venezuelan referee Emikar Calderas after taking out Mongkoldee in the 24th minute, moments after Hapsatou Diallo had raced clear of the offside trap and forced Thongmongkol to turn her rising drive round the post. Chances started to flow at both ends of the park, with Safietou Sagna picking Somnuek's pocket before firing narrowly wide, to which Thailand responded via a lofted drive from Pram-Nak which Sene grabbed under the bar on the half-hour. Senegal came on strong in the minutes before half-time, a first-time volley from Diop landing on the roof of the net before she sent Diallo storming forward. Thongmongkol spilled her shot, allowing Diallo a second bite of the cherry. But Philawan was back to block the striker's second attempt, the ball ricocheting off the defender into the grateful gloves of the goalkeeper. Stoppage time loomed large as Ndiaye, on receipt of a pass from her captain, Korka Fall, rattled the crossbar, while soon afterwards, at the other end of the park, Sene struggled to control a back-pass from Mbayang Sow, only just managing to clear her lines as Jinantuya bore down on her at a great rate of knots. Senegal started the second half as they did the first - hot on attack. Within sixty seconds of the resumption of play, Diop stormed down the left before firing in a low cross which was spilled by Thongmongkol. Ndiaye wasn't in a position to

capitalise, but combined with Fall to set up Ndeye Diakhate, who sliced her effort wide of the target. Six minutes later, Diop was on the rampage again, this time turning defenders inside out before letting fly. Thongmongkol's handling was better this time - it had to be, with Diallo closing in for the kill. Back came Thailand, Sunisa Srangthaisong's teasing cross headed out by Camara to Mongkoldee, who controlled neatly but directed her volley over the bar. Senegal's response saw Diop pursuing a through ball, only to be denied on the edge of the penalty area by Thongmongkol, who saved at the giant striker's feet. The athleticism of the African side was becoming a problem for their smaller, more incisive Asian rivals, who at times struggled to keep up with their taller, more lithe opponents, who would have equalised on the hour but for a superb save by Thongmongkol, who turned Diop's shot on the turn round the post. Still Senegal pressed, Diop seeing a shot blocked by the fearless Philawan. The resulting corner was headed over by Ndiaye, who was slide-tackled in the area by Philawan in the 66th minute. Unfortunately for the defender, her momentum saw her hand make contact with the ball, prompting referee Calderas to point to the penalty spot. Diakhate sent Thongmongkol the wrong way from twelve yards, to the undisguised delight of her Senegal team-mates, who clearly fancied their chances of going on to win this match. Given the form they'd shown to get back into the contest, you wouldn't bet against them at this point. Thailand had their own ideas on this matter, however. Another tantalising Srangthaisong cross from the left twenty minutes from time saw Mongkoldee time her leap to perfection to beat her taller opponents in the air, only to guide the ball narrowly past the upright. Back came Senegal, Ndiaye rattling the crossbar for the second time in the game with fourteen minutes remaining, a let-off to which Thailand responded via Aupachai's rampaging right-wing run, which culminated in a cross which had Mongkoldee's name written all over it. Camara had other ideas, averting the danger for a corner, from which Pram-Nak lofted a shot over the bar. Into the final ten minutes, and another timely block by Philawan prevented Diallo from breaking the deadlock. Three minutes from time, a deep cross from Sow picked out the head of Diop, but Thongmongkol proved equal to the task, seconds before she looked on with relief as substitute Haby Balde sent the ball ballooning over the bar, bringing to a frustrating end another concerted Senegal attack. The African side looked the more likely victors, with Thailand hanging on for dear life at times. Ultimately, their efforts proved suffice to see the spoils shared in this highly entertaining encounter between two different footballing cultures, Senegal concluding their first adventure out of Africa with a deserved 1-1 draw, although coach Serigne Cisse's mournful expression post-match was clearly one of  "a win that got away". Thailand:     Thongmongkol; Muensri (Rodthong, 77), Intaraprasit, Philawan (booked, 63), Srangthaisong; Aupachai, Pram-Nak, Chuchuen (Panyosuk, 77), Somnuek; Jinantuya, Mongkoldee Senegal:     Sene; Dembele, Camara, Sow (booked, 35), Babou (booked, 8); Sagna, Fall, Diakhate; Diallo (Seck, 84), Diop, Ndiaye (Balde, 82) Referee:     Emikar Calderas (Venezuela)