Vietnam edge the Philippines (Photo AFF)
Thailand and Vietnam lived up to their top billing after both secured winning starts to their FIFA ASEAN Cup Division 1 Group B campaigns on Saturday.
Thailand faced little trouble as they defeated Pakistan 4-0 while Vietnam’s tie was a more tense affair with the reigning ASEAN champions emerging 1-0 winners against the Philippines.
It took Thailand a while to get going but they eventually broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark as a Jude Soonsup-Bell header was parried into the path of Teerasak Poeiphimai, who swept home from close range.
Soonsup-Bell then went from provider to finisher in the 41st minute as he met a Seksan Ratree cross to send Thailand into the break with a comfortable advantage.
Thailand lost Soonsup-Bell to injury early in the second period, with the player who came on in his place, Supachai Chaided, making an immediate impact as he teed up Teerasak for a shot that spun into the net in the 64th minute off the leg of Pakistan defender Haris Zeb.
Teerasak poked home a late fourth with six minutes of regulation time remaining to complete a commanding win for a Thailand side ahead of their headline showdown against Vietnam on Tuesday.
With the Philippines having failed to defeat Vietnam for the past 12 years, they entered as clear underdogs in the pair’s Group B opener.
Randy Schneider came close to handing them a 23rd minute lead though, his long-range effort crashing off the bar.
Barely two minutes later they were made to pay for that miss as Nguyen Dinh Bac strode forward to meet a Williams Minh Hoang cross and send Vietnam into the break ahead.
The Philippines were far from overawed and only a fine save from Le Giang Patrik prevented Jarvey Gayoso from pulling them level shortly after the restart.
Vietnam then suffered a blow as captain Nguyen Xuan Son was forced off with a hamstring injury just after the hour mark, before the Philippines thought they had struck a late leveller but after a VAR review, Kenji Nishioka’s strike was chalked off as Vietnam hung on to collect maximum points.
