'We can handle the pressure'

The Thailand football team left for tomorrow’s second leg of the Asean Championship (AFF Suzuki Cup) final in buoyant mood yesterday after their “tik tok” strategy put them within touching distance of their first title in 12 years.

Three-time champions Thailand delivered an eye-catching performance in the first leg of the final against 2010 winners Malaysia at a packed Rajamangala Stadium on Wednesday, culminating in a convincing 2-0 victory.

After a first half during which they struggled to put finishing touches to some fine chances against the dogged Malaysians, the Thais hit top gear after the break as their attractive brand of football came to the fore.

A Charyl Chappuis penalty and a well-struck shot from the impressive Kroekrit Thawikan added shine to a polished Thai performance and gave them a healthy advantage for the return leg at the intimidating Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

The two goals at Rajamangala were met with thunderous cheers, but the moment that got Thai fans purring with pleasure came in stoppage time when the home team had Malaysian players chasing shadows with a move that strung together 27 passes. Although it ended with Thai-Swiss midfielder Chappuis dragging his shot wide, the move prompted comparisons with Barcelona’s famed “tiki taka” football, based on a short passing game.

However, coach Kiatisak Senamuang, the man credited with the Thai team’s upturn in fortunes since leading the under-23 side to the SEA Games title in Myanmar last year, preferred to christen it “tik tok” football. “It’s the fruit of our work in training. We practised what we call a ‘tik tok’ style. Tik tok is one-touch football, while tiki taka is two-touch. We need to pass the ball quickly because our players are small.

“If we believe in ourselves and have the courage to play our game, we can repeat what we saw [against Malaysia],” Kiatisak said, speaking at Don Mueang Airport, where dozens of fans gathered to give his team a warm send-off before they boarded the flight to Kuala Lumpur.

With players like Chappuis, Kroekrit and diminutive midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin – veterans of the side that won the SEA Games title and were fourth at the Asian Games – Kiatisak is confident his charges will come through another high-pressure game at Bukit Jalil.

“We played away from home the past two years. At the SEA Games in Myanmar, did we feel the pressure? Yes, we did. Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea? Yes. The first match at home? Yes. “So, of course, away from home again this time, we will feel the pressure. But we have to come through it.

“We need to give our utmost. There are still 90 minutes to go. Everyone is determined to do their job and they’re confident. But we won’t underestimate Malaysia. We will do our best for sure,” said Kiatisak, whose team are bidding to clinch their fourth title overall, which would put them level with Singapore as the most successful nation in the biennial tournament.