BANGKOK (26 Feb 2012) – Indonesia join Thailand as two of the three representatives from ASEAN for the final round of the AFC Futsal Championship 2012 which will be played out in the United Arab Emirates on 12-22 May 2012.
Only the top three ranked teams from the ASEAN qualifiers will make the cut to the tournament proper. In the semi-finals, Indonesia edged Vietnam 2-1 after extra-time while hosts Thailand demolished Australia 7-0.
In the match that was played at the Krungthep Thonburi Indoor Stadium, Indonesia and Vietnam battled to a scoreless draw at the end of regulation until Afif Tamimy fired Indonesia to a 1-0 lead just a minute into the first period of extra-time.
Luu Quynh Toan then pulled a goal back for Vietnam two minutes after the interval before Caisar Oktavianus Silitonga scored the winner in the 47th minute of play for the well-deserved Indonesian victory.
In the meantime, hosts Thailand showed no mercy when they totally outclassed Australia 7-0.
Suphawut Thueanklang scored a hat-trick of which the first goal came in the 4th minute. The goal was ninth of the tournament for in-form Suphawut. Chalaemkhet Keattiyot made it 2-0 in the 9th minute as the host had firm control of the match. Thailand added one more goal in the first half thanks to Nattavut Madyalan who made it 3-0 in the 20th minute.
The hosts’ dominance continued in the second half as the favorites made it 4-0 in the 27th minute through a Thananchai Chaemcharoen strike. Suphawut grabbed his second of the game in the 37th minute and completed his hat-trick three minutes later taking his individual tally for the tournament to 11 before Kritsada Wongkaeo wrapped up the 7-0 win when he also scored in the 40th minute.
With Thailand and Indonesia confirming their place in the final rounds, the winner of the third/fourth placing game between Vietnam and Australia will decide who will win the other ticket to the UAE.
