Finish the job, national coach Kiatisak tells his team

Defending champions Thailand defeated 166th-ranked Myanmar – who have made the last four for the first time since 2004 – 2-0 courtesy of inform striker Teerasil Dangda’s brace on Sunday in Yangon to take a healthy advantage into the return leg.

The Kingdom already have one foot in the final of the biennial tournament but former national striker Kiatisak urged his team to get the job done against the opponents to whom they have never lost in the competition.

“We may have gained the advantage from the first leg but I told the lads the second one is equally important. We want to put on a good display in front of our own fans. Our objective is to win the game tomorrow.

“We’re aware that Myanmar are a youthful side and they’re still focused on the task at hand. So, we can’t take our eye off the ball. We hope to play beautiful football, make it entertaining and secure our passage to the final.  

“We have a squad of 23 players who can replace one another. We are not concerned about players, who are one booking away from suspension. I don’t want them to think about it since it can affect their play.

“It’s also important for us to forget the first leg result. We need to think that it is all square again,” the 43-year-old coach, who helped the country win the regional crown two years ago to add to the three he won during his playing days, told a conference yesterday.         

Holding midfielder Sarach Yooyen, who was cautioned in Sunday’s first leg, said he hoped the team woul impress the fans when they play at home for the first time in this year’s edition. Thailand have played their group stage matches in the Philippines, winning all three matches to qualify as Group A winners.

“I’m not worried about being at risk of incurring a suspension but I need to be careful when making tackles. We hope to produce our best form because it’s the first game we play in front of our fans in the tournament.”

The Muangthong United player, a member of the country’s title-winning squad in 2014, said the experience from their triumphant campaign would put them in good stead for the Myanmar fixture.   “I played once in the event in the previous edition. We all have gained more experience in the last two years. I think none of us would be complacent against Myanmar. They’re good at counter attacking. They have good pace up front.

“We simply need to play our game, trying to put away the chances that come our way as we already have two goals in the bag. We hope to make everyone happy.”

If Thailand, the tournament’s joint most successful country along with Singapore, make it to the final as expected, they will face either Vietnam or Indonesia in the home-and-away showdown later this month for a record-breaking fifth title.