BANGKOK (25 Oct 2013) – Suphawut Thuenklang showed just why he is the hottest property in Thai Futsal when his five goals lead the homesters into the final of the AFF Miracle of Life Futsal Championship here at the Bangkok Thonburi University Stadium.
Even with a bandaged right hand, the 24-year-old Suphawut set the pace, pulled the strings of the Thai attacks and scored five goals in the process to the delight of more than 3,000 screaming fans.
“I was quite surprised with how Indonesia played when they decided to man mark Kritsada (Wongkaeo). But we have other players whom we can rely on,” said Thai coach Victor Hermans.
“The lesson that we took from this match is that we need to finish the game early. Some of the players were not concentrating in the game but I felt that this match is really ours to win.”
With two regulars – striker Andri Kustiawan and goalkeeper Asep Irwan – suspended, the game was always going to tough for the Indonesians. But credit has to be given to stand-in custodian Mohamad Syaldi Aulia Gozali for his fine effort as he made several fine saves in the opening quarter.
But when Jetsada Chudech opened the scoring in the sixth minute, there was no doubt as who will win in the end as Thailand went on to score three more goals for a 4-1 lead at the break.
Nawin Rattanawongswa (11t minute), Suphawut (13th) and Jirawat Sornwichian (15th) were all on target before Indonesia replied with the first goal in the 13th minute.
Into the second half, and Thailand continued very much in the same vein with goals off Kritsada’s 28 minute penalty, Suphawut (35th, 36th, 39th and 39th) and Jirawat (38th).
Indonesia added two more goals in the second half off an own goal from Thailand’s Piyapan Ratana in the 27th minute and then Syahidansyah Lubis in the 36th minute where enroute, they also lost Renaldi to a red card offence in the 28th minute for stopping the ball with his hands inside the D.
“The several individual mistakes cost us the game,” said Andri Irawan, the coach for Indonesia. “But we were using a lot of young players and this tournament has been a very good experience for them.”
AFF FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013
25 Oct 2013
SEMI-FINALS
1330: Thailand 10 Indonesia 4
1630: Australia vs Vietnam
