Plucky Thailand give US a mighty fright
Thailand put up a gallant fight but world champions United States did just enough to claim a thrilling 3-2 victory in the Pool C game of the FIVB women’s world championship in Japan last night.
Thailand, who suffered yet another injury blow when top scorer Ajcharaporn Kongyot was carried off the court late in the fourth set after landing awkwardly on her right ankle, went down 17-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-21, 11-15 at Kobe Green Arena.
The excellent Ajcharaporn, who left the arena in a wheelchair, had 23 points while captain Pleumjit Thinkaow chipped in 14. Michelle Bartsch-Hackley top scored for the US with 23 points while Foluke Akinradewo added 17.
The Americans cruised through the first two sets and looked on course for a straightforward victory. But the Thais had other ideas and wowed fans with a battling display full of dynamic digs, defence and punishing spikes from their whirlwind attackers as they took the third and fourth sets and pushed the match to the decisive fifth.
Thailand (2-2) will play Azerbaijan (2-2) today with a third place in the pool up for grabs while the US and Russia, the two teams with 4-0 records, will fight for the top spot.
A South Korea loss earlier in the day had already guaranteed Thailand a place in the second round, and coach Danai Sriwachamaytakul sent on backup players like Chitaporn Kamlangmak and Watchareeya Nualjam.
Pimpichaya Kokram, as expected, sat out the match after she went down with an injury during the game against Russia on Tuesday.
Earlier, Russia claimed their fourth consecutive win by beating South Korea 3-0, ending the Asian side’s slim hopes of qualifying for the second round.
Led by the in-form Nataliya Goncharova, who scored 24 points with 22 spikes, the Russians won 25-23, 25-20, 25-15. Kseniia Parubets added 10 points for Russia.
Park Jeong-Ah top-scored with 18 points and captain Kim Yeon-Koung added 12 for South Korea.
Azerbaijan defeated the already-eliminated Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 (29-27, 25-16, 25-17).