SEA GAMES 2011: DREAM IS OVER FOR THAILAND

JAKARTA (14 Nov 2011) – The dream is over. Thailand’s hope of regaining the SEA Games crown fell to pieces last night when they conceded their second loss in Group A following a 3-1 defeat to Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

The team had earlier went down 2-1 to Malaysia in their first game in the group and where after beating Cambodia, were confident that they can pick up the full points against the hosts.

But two red cards later on Theeraton Bunmathan and Ekkasit Chaobut paved the way for Indonesia’s passage into the next round and Thailand’s exit from the group stage for two SEA Games in a row.

“If it were not for the red cards, I believe that the game would have been much closer. I think that the referee (Kim Jong Hyeok of Korea) should have been wiser and not reach for the red card all too easy. But I would not like to comment more on it lest I’m seen as making excuses,” lamented Kasem Jariyawatwong, the team manager of Thailand after the match last night.

Theeraton picked up two bookings in a space of three minutes with the second being a whimsical foul on Indonesia’s Andik Vermansyah just 13 minutes into the game with Ekkasit Chaobut joining his team-mate in the 65^th minute – with yet another harsh tackle on Andik.

“I admit that some of the players were not able to control their emotions but I’m ready to take responsibility for our failure. I never think about clinging on the post. It maybe the time to make way for a new guy to do the job,” added Kasem.

“The good thing is that most of the players are still very young around the age of 19 or 20-years-old which means that they can still play at the next SEA Games.”

Thailand will round up their SEA Games campaign against Singapore on 17 November 2011.

SEA GAMES 2011 RESULTS and FIXTURES
GROUP A

CURRENT STANDINGS