LAOS CREATE HISTORY TO FACE THAILAND IN FINAL

With Thailand dumping defending champions Vietnam 2-0 in the semi-final match today at the Army Stadium and then Laos whitewashing Indonesia 3-0 in the other game at the National Olympic Stadium, it has set up an awesome final date between experienced and first–timers.

For Laos, their win over Indonesia in the match which was played in heavy rain in the first half, was a record in itself since they have never beaten the latter ever in their history.

“This is the first time that we have beaten Indonesia (at any level) but I have to admit that in the first half, we were a little lucky to score the first goal,” said Laos head coach Soulivanh Xienvilay.

“We will try to get the results in the final against Thailand – yet another team which we have never beaten before – but we all know that Thailand is a strong team and that it will be a different ball game.

“We have to prepare well for the match against Thailand and perhaps change our tactics a little to suit playing against them.”

With the rain bearing down even before the first whistle in the match at the National Olympic Stadium was blown, the desire for a free-flow attacking football was thrown out of the window.

A drive from Laos Konekham Inthammavong which was saved by Tri Windu Anggono in the seventh minute was replied by Indonesia’s Yericho Cristiantoko’s swerving free kick three minutes later which narrowly missed the intended target.

But with the pitch getting heavier and heavier by the minute and the ball getting stuck on the puddles of water, the game became a battle in the midfield as both set of players attempt to gain more possession and space.

However, there was no denying Laos the lead in the 43rd minute when Sopha Saysana’s free kick took a deflection before sailing into goal while barely three minutes after the restart, his stinger from just outside the Indonesia box beat keeper Tri Windu for the second time in the game.

Indonesia rallied to throw everything they had at Laos but just can’t seem to make any headway each time they went forward and in the 63rd minute, they fell further behind when Ketsada headed in the third goal for Laos off a corner from Phettikone Pangsanath.

As if to make things a little more complicated, Indonesia lost Yericho in the 88th minute when he picked up his second yellow card for Singapore referee S. Kumar to give him the marching orders.

“The rain affected the quality of the game while the second goal early in the second half disrupted the players’ rhythm,” said Indonesia head coach Urias afterwards.

“But I congratulate Laos for their win today.”

IN THE MEANTIME in the other semi-finals match which was played at the Army Stadium, two goals in each half from Anusak Laosangthai gave Thailand a 2-0 win over defending champions Vietnam.

Anusak made sure of the win for Thailand with goals in the 28th minute and then in the 85th minute for the well-deserved victory.

FIXTURES on September 1, 2007 (All matches at the National Olympic Stadium)

THIRD and FOURTH PLACING (0800): VIETNAM vs INDONESIA

FINAL (1500): LAOS vs THAILAND

PIC: INDONESIA (in red) against LAOS (in blue)