THAIS MAKE FINAL FOR THE FOURTH TIME
BANGKOK (Jan 28, 2007) - Favourites Thailand sauntered into the final of the Asean Football Championship by playing Vietnam to a scoreless draw in their second leg, semi-final at the Supachalasai Stadium tonight.
Thailand will meet Singapore in the final of the championship which is to be played in the first leg in Singapore on Wednesday and in Bangkok on Feb 4.
Taking a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Hanoi last Wednesday, the Thais weathered intermittent spells of pressure from the Vietnamese in the first half of the second leg which set the pattern for the rest of the game.
The Thais played their iconic skipper Kiatisuk Senamuang despite the latter nursing ankle and hip injuries that showed in his relative ineffectiveness until he had to be replaced on 79th minutes by Khwanchai Phuangprkob.
THAILAND COACH CHANVIT PHALAJIVIN“A lot of our players were tired. I am happy with the result. Our players created several chances but they could not score. For the final we will have to improve our finishing,” said Chanvit Phalajivin, the head coach of Thailand.
“We played an attacking game but a bit safe as several players were tired and a bit injured (and could not play to their full ability) like Kiatisuk Senamuang. I am happy with the result. We had a lot of chances but could not score. Our finishing must be better in the final (against Singapore). We had so many chances but could not score. Sarayoot Chaikamdee missed several chances from inside the box.
We will be travelling to Singapore tomorrow or on Tuesday. We have one or two days to rest and one of them will be spent travelling. The team need rest - massage and physio. Vietnam played very good football today but like us could not score.”