KORAT (23 June 2019) – PTT Chonburi Bluewave were just irrepressible on the day as they overwhelmed Sanvinest Sanatech Khanh Hoa 9-1 in the final to lift their first ever title of the AFF Futsal Cup 2019 here at Terminal 21 Korat.
In so doing, Chonburi of Thailand became the first team in ASEAN to do the double – by winning the AFC Futsal title and also the AFF crown, albeit not in the same year.
“The plan had always been to keep the title for another year (in Thailand) as we showed our strong tradition in this sport,” said Rakphol Sainetngam after the win in front of a fullhouse crowd.
“But at the same time too, we wanted to be the first team in ASEAN to have ever won the AFC title and also the AFC crown. That is an achievement in itself.
“In the final today (against Sanvinest), our players are just too familiar with each other and that is the reason why we were able to dominate our opponents.”
With Chonburi having already dominated Sanvinest by half a dozen goals in the group stage, not much was expected in the ‘re-match’ as the Thai champions just had too many individual quality through the likes of Suphawut Thueanklang and Nattavut Madyalan.
Just six minutes in, a four player combination play saw Rudimar Venancio with the easiest of tap ins.
Sanvinest defended in numbers and as they look for the chance for a quick counter, it was Chonburi who then doubled their lead at the half through tournament top scorer Suphawut.
The second half was all Chonburi as they piled the goals through Kritsada Wongkaeo in the 27th minute, Nattavut (29th), Suphawut (29th and 37th), Nawin Rattanawongswas (31st), Ronnachai Jungwongsuk (32nd) and Jirawat Sornwichian (36th).
Sanvinest’s only goal of the game came off Nguyen Quoc Bao three minutes to the end.
“We know that we were not going to win this game,” said Sanvinest head coach Prasert Innui.
“We tried to play a disciplined game but while we tried hard, Chonburi just had too much quality.”
In the meantime, Myanmar Imperial University (MIU FC) came in third for the fourth time in their history when they survived a second half battering to beat Down Town Sport 9-5 in the classification match that was played earlier.
For Down Town – who are playing in their first ever championship, there really was no shame in the defeat as they had had put up some scintillating performance throughout with import player Owolabi Fisayo Blessing a crown favourites.
But it was obvious that MIU were not about to let slip finishing third after failing to make the final this year as they stamped their authority.
With Down Town still in search of the rhythm, MIU ran riot in all of ten minutes off goals from Ko KO Lwin, (third minute), Pyae Phyo Maung (7th) and Hlaing Min Tun (10th and 10th minute.
The score at the end of the first half was 4-1 with Down Town pulling a goal back off Keo Cheatuo who fired in a freekick in the 12th minute.
But the second half, Down Town would came in with renewed vigour as they created a string of chances before scoring four goals within a seven-minute period.
Blessing was on a hat trick with goals in the 27th, 29th and 33rd minute to be followed by the equalising fifth goal from Ros Sichamrouen – sandwiched by MIU’s Pyae Phyo Maung’s 32nd minute effort.
With the score levelled at 5-5, MIU stepped up a gear to blast in four goals – Kyaw Kyaw Tun (36th minute) and Phyo Maung’s hat trick (37th, 40th and 40th).
RESULTS – 23 June 2019
FINAL
Sanvinest Sanatech Khanh Hoa 1 PTT Chonburi Bluewave 9
THIRD-FOURTH PLACING
MIC FC 9 Down Town Sport 5
