PANUWAT HELPS THAILAND TO SLIM WIN

BANGKOK (12 May 2008) – Panuwat Janta’s only goal of the afternoon gave Thailand a well-deserved 1-0 win over Iraq in the opening game of the AFC Futsal Championship at the Nimibutr Stadium.

Playing in Group B, the hosts found it hard to break through Iraq’s defensive line with keeper Utaly Abdulqader in inspired form.

And after several early misses, Panuwat made it count with a left-footer to the roof of the net for what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

In the meantime, Indonesia did not fare as well when they went down 5-1 to Kyrgyzstan in Group A at the same venue while Malaysia were thumped 10-0 by Uzbekistan in Group C at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.

The only goal for Indonesia came off Afif Tamimy off a square from Topas Pamungkas.

For Malaysia, their chance of progressing into the next round has been impeded with the red card on Mohamad Fuad Yusof.