BRAVE BRUNEI CREATE HISTORY; THAIS TO PLAY MALAYSIA IN LAST FOUR

Indonesia had earlier put up an awesome display to dispatch defending champions Thailand into second place in Group A while Malaysia made the semi-finals by virtue of beating Vietnam to finish at the top of Group B.

In the match against Indonesia, hosts Thailand had the best of start in the crucial tie this afternoon, going ahead as early as the first minute through an opportunistic strike from Kritsada Wongkaeo.

Rattled, Indonesia played the patient game and in the eighth minute it paid off as Maulana Ihsan blasted in a set-piece.

With the score tied at 1-1 at the end of the first half, the young Thai side were a little impatient after the break and they paid dearly for their mistakes.

The more experienced Indonesian side punished them when they took the lead for the first time in the game off Topas Pamungkas in the 18th minute.

Thailand then lost a man when referee Junaidi Serudin from Brunei showed Thanakorn Penpakul the red card in the 35th minute.

Indonesia then took advantage to score their third goal in the game off Pamungkas a minute later.

“The young Thai side were better technically, in terms of passing and shooting. But we were disciplined in terms of tactics. That made the difference,” added Justinus Lhaksana, the head coach of Indonesia.

In the meantime, Brunei beat Laos 6-1 in the final Group B game.

Despite falling behind in the 14th minute off a strike from Laos captain Valasine Dalaphone, the sultanate side fought back with goals from Asrul Asdynee Sahdon (18th and 19th minute), Mohd Hardyman Lamit (33rd and 34th) and Jasriman Johari (36th and 39th).

“It was a great team effort and we deserve to be in the semi-finals,” added Yunos Yusof, the head coach for Brunei.

AFF FUTSAL LEAGUE 2008 RESULTS and FIXTURES

27 AUGUST
MALAYSIA 4 LAOS 2
INDONESIA 4 MYANMAR 2
VIETNAM 5 BRUNEI 4
THAILAND 5 PHILIPPINES 4

28 AUGUST
LAOS 5 VIETNAM 2
PHILIPPINES 0 INDONESIA 7
BRUNEI 1 MALAYSIA 7
MYANMAR 2 THAILAND 7

29 AUGUST
VIETNAM 2 MALAYSIA 3
MYANMAR 6 PHILIPPINES 2
THAILAND 1 INDONESIA 3
BRUNEI 6 LAOS 1

30 AUGUST
Indonesia vs Brunei (1400hrs)
Malaysia vs Thailand (1600hrs)

31 AUGUST
Loser SF 1 vs Loser SF 2 (1400hrs)
Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 (1600hrs)