Thailand meet Singapore in final
Monday, January 29, 2007
THAILAND reached the final of the Asean Football Championship on Sunday after a goalless draw with Vietnam gave them a 2-0 aggregate victory and a shot at their fourth title.
Thailand will meet Singapore in tomorrow's final first-leg after the defending champions beat Malaysia 5-4 on penalties on Saturday.
Buoyed by a vociferous capacity crowd, the Thais, who won 2-0 in Hanoi last week, were on the attack from the start.
Surayuth Chaikamdee wasted several clear chances in front of goal, blasting the ball over the bar twice after good work on the right by Suchao Nutnum and Kiatisak Senamaung.
Nirut Surasiang came close to scoring on 13 minutes when he latched on to a Datsakorn Thonglao through-ball to shoot wide of the post.
The visitors almost took the lead two minutes later when Phan Thanh Binh's spectacular bicycle kick was saved by goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa from close range.
The Thais squandered another chance in the 37th minute when Suchao's cross flashed across the face of the goal only for Datsakorn to fire over the bar.
After the break, Vietnam kept Thailand at bay for 25 minutes before a diving header by striker Kiatisak went past the post.
"I'm happy with the result but we had so many chances, from six yards, 10 yards. They can't do it under pressure," Thai coach Charnwit Polcheewin told a news conference.
Vietnam's Austrian coach Alfred Riedl said his side deserved to be in the final.
"In both matches, we were better than Thailand, but they scored two goals, and that's what counts. We have to score goals. If we can't score, we can't win. This is always our problem," he said.
Singapore and Thailand are the only teams to have won the biennial competition, formerly the Tiger Cup, since it began in 1996.Reuters
Thailand will meet Singapore in tomorrow's final first-leg after the defending champions beat Malaysia 5-4 on penalties on Saturday.
Buoyed by a vociferous capacity crowd, the Thais, who won 2-0 in Hanoi last week, were on the attack from the start.
Surayuth Chaikamdee wasted several clear chances in front of goal, blasting the ball over the bar twice after good work on the right by Suchao Nutnum and Kiatisak Senamaung.
Nirut Surasiang came close to scoring on 13 minutes when he latched on to a Datsakorn Thonglao through-ball to shoot wide of the post.
The visitors almost took the lead two minutes later when Phan Thanh Binh's spectacular bicycle kick was saved by goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa from close range.
The Thais squandered another chance in the 37th minute when Suchao's cross flashed across the face of the goal only for Datsakorn to fire over the bar.
After the break, Vietnam kept Thailand at bay for 25 minutes before a diving header by striker Kiatisak went past the post.
"I'm happy with the result but we had so many chances, from six yards, 10 yards. They can't do it under pressure," Thai coach Charnwit Polcheewin told a news conference.
Vietnam's Austrian coach Alfred Riedl said his side deserved to be in the final.
"In both matches, we were better than Thailand, but they scored two goals, and that's what counts. We have to score goals. If we can't score, we can't win. This is always our problem," he said.
Singapore and Thailand are the only teams to have won the biennial competition, formerly the Tiger Cup, since it began in 1996.Reuters
2007/1.%20January/30%20Jan/BT30Jan.16.pdf
Business Besides Oil
