SEA GAMES Semi-final Report

[nghia doan <nghia71@yahoo.com>]

http://www.asian-football.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::39913+article+7707

SEA GAMES
Semi-final Report 
By Michael Church, Editor AFC News Magazine 

Thailand and Vietnam will face off in the final of the 1999 South East
Games after the pair came through semi-final clashes with Singapore and
Indonesia respectively. 

The clash will be a repeat of the 1995 final when Thailand hammered
Vietnam 4-0 in the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiangmai, northern
Thailand with two goals apiece from Tawan Sripan and Natipong
Srotong-in. 

Tawan figured strongly as the Thais cruised into their fifth successive
SEA Games final of the decade with a comfortable 2-0 over Tiger Cup
champions Singapore, scoring once and setting up the other for
Thavatchai Ongtrakul. 

Singapore, who were surprise winners of the Tiger Cup in Vietnam last
year, always looked second best to a Thai side that is looking for
their fourth South East Asian Games gold medal in a row. After losing
in the final in 1991 to Indonesia, the Thais have won the last three
regional championships - in 1993, 1995 and 1997 - as well as claiming
the inaugural Tiger Cup title in 1996. 

Tawan opened the scoring after 20 minutes when he put the finishing
touch to a move that saw Surachai Jattarapatarapong feed Kiatisuk
Senamuang inside the penalty area before the 26-year-old captain laid
the ball off to Tawan, who struck with precision from the edge of the
box. 

Singapore rarely threatened in the opening period - the island nation
going closest when Indra Sahdan Daud's shot clipped the top of the
crossbar as the clock approached the half-hour mark - and still failed
to make their mark despite coming more into the game in the second
half. 

Thailand put the result beyond doubt when Ongtrakul struck 16 minutes
from time. After a surging run, Tawan slipped the ball wide to
Ongtrakul who cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable drive across
Mohd Rezal Hassan in the Singaporean goal and into the back of the net.


"The most important thing today was that we got into the final," said
Thailand's English coach Peter Withe. "Overall, if you look at our
performances so far we have been scoring goals in almost every game and
we can't complain about always being under pressure. 

"I'm not particularly bothered who we play in the final, whether it's
Indonesia or Vietnam. Both are good sides but I was more concerned
about Thailand making the final. Vietnam will be a tough game but I'm
not concerned about the opposition. I'm more concerned about how
Thailand play." 

Vietnam qualified for the final by defeating 1997 silver medallists
Indonesia thanks to a solitary goal from Nguyen Hong Son. The
midfielder struck with 20 minutes remaining to set up the clash with
Thailand. The two sides met in the group stages, fighting out a 0-0
draw. 


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