Indonesia stand between Thailand and soccer glory
Thailand are looking to follow up their double futsal success by reclaiming the SEA Games men's soccer title when they lock horns with 2011 finalists Indonesia in the final in Nay Pyi Taw today.
In the women’s futsal final yesterday, Thailand underlined their supremacy by putting five goals without reply past bitter rivals Vietnam at Wunna Theikdi stadium to clinch the title for a third successive time.
The Thai men also dominated the futsal, clinching back-to-back titles with an 8-1 mauling of Vietnam in a rematch of the final two years ago.
Thailand are now hoping to put the icing on the cake and salvage pride dented by back-to-back group-stage exits in the men’s soccer competition.
Four years since lifting the last of their 13 titles to cement their status as the Games most successful team, the Thais are now just one match away from reclaiming the gold medal they crave the most.
After established a stranglehold by winning eight consecutive soccer golds, the Thais were humbled by early exits in the previous two editions. Those debacles in Laos and Indonesia have torpedoed the Thailand’s status as top dogs in the region.
After battling through Thursday’s semi-final against Singapore, who have yet to win the title in the regional sporting event despite taking the Southeast Asian Football Championship a record four times, Thailand will be desperate to get the disappointment of the past four years out of their system.
Standing between them and the gold is Indonesia, who defeated defending champions Malaysia on penalties after their semi-final ended 1-1 after the extra time. The Indonesians played a part in the Thailand’s demise two years ago when they beat them 3-1 in the group phase, culminating in the Thais’ early elimination.
The Thai team, though, exacted revenge on the Indonesians earlier in the competition, downing them 4-1. However, national under-23 team coach Kiatisak “Zico” Senamuang said the result of the group-stage clash would have no bearing on the showdown at the Zeyar Thiri stadium in Myanmar’s capital.
“We can’t take the result of the first meeting as a reference. After they lost to us, they went on to beat both hosts Myanmar and defending champions Malaysia,” said the former national striker, who helped the country win four SEA Games titles during his stellar playing career.
Elsewhere, Thailand’s women footballers were due to face Vietnam in last night’s final in Mandalay.
