DRAW GOOD ENOUGH TO GIVE THAILAND T&T CROWN

Both Thailand and Vietnam are using the T&T Cup as a prelude to their participation in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 next month where incidentally, they have been grouped in the same Group B which will be based in Bangkok against Malaysia and Laos.

In the final tie of the T&T Cup, which was postponed from the beginning of the month due to bad weather, both Vietnam and Thailand started strongly and they showed their determination with several early chances.

Thailand came close in the seventh and 28th minute but the ball came off the crossbar on both occassions.

However, in the 32nd minute Nataporn Phanrit finally scored the opener for Thailand from close range as Vietnam struggled to find the last touch for the equaliser in the closing stages of the first half.

Seven minutes after the restart, Viet Thang then levelled the score with a header off a freekick from Minh Phuong to give Vietnam a lifeline.

But Thailand went ahead again with a goal from Teerasil Dangda in the 82nd minute as Minh Phuong then nailed the late equaliser five minutes later for both teams to share a point each.

With the draw, Thailand emerged as the overall champions following their close 1-0 win over DPR Korea earlier while Vietnam are second with two draws from two matches.

Third are DPR Korea with one draw and one loss.