2014 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: THAILAND HELD AT HOME; DEFEAT FOR INDONESIA AND SINGAPORE

BANGKOK (12 Oct 2011) – Thailand were held to a scoreless draw at home while Indonesia and Singapore tasted defeat for the third time on the third match day of the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers last night.

Thailand were held to a scoreless draw by Saudi Arabia at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok while Indonesia suffered a slim 3-2 loss to Qatar in Jakarta as Singapore crashed at home to a 3-0 loss to Jordan.

With the one point, the Thais remained second in Group D four points from one win, one draw and one loss.

“It was an exciting game. Both teams played well in attack and defence,” said Winfried Schaefer, the chief coach of Thailand after the game which was witnessed by more than 30,000 fans.

“The Saudis had more scoring chances than us but Sinthaweechai played very well today. I’d like to praise my players and the fans. I am pleased with my players’ performance. But we must try harder to lift our standard.”

Group D
Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Australia	3	3	0	0	8	2	9
Thailand	3	1	1	1	4	2	4
Saudi Arabia	3	0	2	1	1	3	2
Oman	3	0	1	2	0	6	1

In Jakarta, not even a brace from striker Cristian Gonzales could save Indonesia from defeat as a late strike from Muhammed Razarak led Qatar to a 3-2 victory at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Qatar were in front in the 14^th minute off Abdulaziz Al Sulaiti before Gonzales cancelled it out in the 26^th minute.

Khalfan Ibrahim then put the visitors ahead again in the 31st before Gonzales again rallied the hosts in the 35th with his second goal.

But there was no reply to Razarak’s 59^th minute striker which gave Qatar their first full point in Group E.

Group E
Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Iran	3	2	1	0	10	1	7
Qatar	3	1	2	0	4	3	5
Bahrain	3	1	1	1	2	6	4
Indonesia	3	0	0	3	2	8	0

In Singapore, the home team simply had no answer to Jordan when they folded to a 3-0 loss to the visitors in a Group A tie.

Abdallah Deeb scored the opener for Jordan on ten minute as further goals from Anas Bani Yaseen (54th minute) and Ahmad Hayel (63^rd minute) completed the humiliation for the Lions.

“I think we did not take our chances and it is important at this level to convert chances when you have them. I think with time, with these young boys, we have a future,” said V. Sundramoorty, the assistant coach of Singapore.

“We have three games left and mathematically, if we get maximum points from the remaining games, we will still have a chance.”