KOREA REPUBLIC TO PLAY AUSTRALIA IN GRAND FINAL

Korea Republic disposed of China 1-0 in the first game of the day while Australia beat hosts Thailand 2-1 in the second match.

The grand final and the fight for the third spot will be played at the Rajamangala Stadium in two days.

Following from their disappointing outing against hosts Thailand in their previous match, China were a lot more determined at the start of the game with striker Zhang Jian again testing the Korean defence.

In the 11th minute he delivered a clever cross from the right but there was no one at the far end while five minutes later, Gao Di’s header from a Jiang Xiao Yu’s freekick went straight to the arms of keeper Kim Da-sol.

Korea then eked out what was perhaps their best chance in the opening half but An Jong-hun’s grounder went frustratingly wide as the score stood still at the break.

But the Koreas needed only one chance to win the game and they did it in the 53rd minute when Jong-hun made up for his miss earlier to head in the cross from Choi Jung-han.

The game went into higher gear after that with both teams launching attacks after attacks with Gao Di again missing a golden opportunity in the 62nd minute with a lame shot to the Korean keeper while some ten minutes later, defender Yu Yang stabbed home a corner only to see the ball trickle out of play.

In the 77th minute, Kim Bo-kyung then replied for Korea with a solo run only to see his shot missing the target while two minutes later, a crisp shot from Han Jea-man forced a brilliant save from Chinese custodian Liu Dian Zuo.

China then created their best chance in the game a minute to the end but Zhang Jian just failed to make good on a one-two-one situation for the Chinese to concede their third straight defeat in the championship.

In the meantime, hosts Thailand failed to lift their game against Australia when they went down 2-1.

With the score at a deadlock at the end of the first half, Australia’s patience paid dividends in the 52nd minute when Mitchell Ian Nichols blasted in the lead off some 25metre out to beat Thai keeper Kawin Thamsatchanan for the first time on the night.

But nine minutes later, Thailand fell further behind when Nathan Elasi headed in a cross from Tahj Minniecon for a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Thailand then attempted to get back into the game with their first goal of the game off Nirunrit Jaroensuks drive but that was to be their only bright spark as the score stayed till the end.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES and FIXTURES

5 OCT 2008: KOREA REPUBLIC 1 THAILAND 0/ AUSTRALIA 3 CHINA 1

7 OCT 2008: KOREA REPUBLIC 0 AUSTRALIA 0/ CHINA 0 THAILAND 3

9 OCT 2008: CHINA 0 KOREA REPUBLIC 1/ THAILAND 1 AUSTRALIA 2

11 OCT 2008: Third and Fourth Placing (China vs Thailand)/ Grand Final (Korea Republic vs Australia)