(Photo AFF)
Thailand moved to the summit of Group B of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup last night as a goal in each half from Yotsakon Burapha and Teerasak Poeiphimai earned them a 2-0 win over Malaysia in Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.
Yotsakon broke the deadlock from the penalty spot seven minutes before the interval and Teerasak added the second in the 56th minute to secure Thailand’s second win in the group after starting their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Laos last week.
The result moves the War Elephants onto six points from two matches and ahead of the Malaysians on goal difference. Malaysia, who have played three times, sit in second ahead of Myanmar and the Philippines with Laos in fifth.
Teerasak went close to opening the scoring in the 32) nd minute, the Port FC forward almost finishing off an intricate move on the edge of the penalty area with a low shot that Azri Ghani managed to push to safety at full stretch.
However, Ubaidullah Shamsul’s clumsy clash with Kakana Khamyok in the build-up to that attempt prompted referee Kim Woo-sung to view the pitch-side monitor and, after a lengthy wait, the South Korean official pointed to the penalty spot.
Yotsakon dispatched with confidence as Azri dived the wrong way to net his second goal of the competition so far.
Teersak should have added a second in first half stoppage time when he volley Chaiyaphon Otton’s centre over the bar from four yards out, the striker unable to keep his team mate’s powerfully struck cross on target.
The Thais did manage to double their lead, with Teerasak making amends for that earlier miss.
Sarach Yooyen fed the ball forward from midfield with Yotsakon laying off possession to substitute Worachit Kanitsribumphen and he found Teerasak, unmarked and onside, close to the penalty spot. After a touch to control, the forward bent his shot into the top corner.
Malaysia substitute Wan Kuzain squandered the opportunity to halve the deficit with 16 minutes left when he volleyed Faris Danish’s inviting cross from the left well wide of Kampon Phatomakkakul’s left post.
Kampon then gifted the Malaysians possession close to goal but quickly made amends with a sprawling save to keep out Paulo Josué’s shot. Kampon threw himself to his right to make another fine save moments later, denying Daryl Sham as Thailand claimed the points.
Meanwhile, the Philippines mounted a second-half rally to pick up their first win in Group B to record a 4-1 win over Laos in Vientiane.
Damoth Thongkhamsavath had given the hosts a seventh-minute lead when goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad fumbled the ball over his own goal-line but Phetdavanh Somsanid’s 14th-minute red card undermined Laos and the Philippines eventually took advantage.
John Lucero levelled after the interval before an own goal by Viengxay Sydavong gave the Philippines the lead and a penalty from Jarvey Gayoso along with a late Daisuke Sato header sealed the visitors’ first win of the tournament after an opening loss against Myanmar.
Laos took the lead when a counter-attack paid off for Vladic Grujić’s side through an error made by the unfortunate Kammeraad. Possession was worked to captain Damoth and his shot from distance squirmed through the goalkeeper’s hands to cross the line.
But the home side’s hopes were hit seven minutes later when they were reduced to 10 men.
Phetdavanh slid in to challenge Gayoso from behind just inside the Philippines half, taking down the striker with a tackle that caught the Bangkok FC man on the calf. Referee Kim Hee-gon initially awarded a yellow card but sent off the defender after a pitch-side review.
The visitors thought they had scored through Kenji Nishioka’s header only for that to be ruled out for an infringement in the build-up, while Cole Mrowka was inches away from equalising with a free kick that bounced just wide of Kop Lokphathip’s left post.
Two minutes into the second-half, the Philippines were finally level. The Laos defence failed to clear when Sato crossed from the left and the ball ended up at the feet of Lucero, who lashed a first-time right-foot finish across goal and into the bottom corner.
By the 52nd minute the visitors were in front when Mrowka received a return pass from Javier Mariona and his shot towards goal was directed past Kop by the outstretched boot of defender Viengxay.
Referee Kim awarded the Philippines a penalty when Gayoso’s strike hit Phoutthavong Sangvilay on the arm and the forward took the spot-kick himself, calmly stroking the ball down the middle to beat Kop.
That goal allowed the Philippines to ease off until two minutes from time when Nishioka swung in his cross from the left and Sato managed to stay onside to head home.
