YANGON (7 Dec 2013) – Thailand picked up their first three points in Group B when they beat Timor Leste 3-1 in the opening game of men’s football here at the Youth Training Centre this evening.
“We created a lot of chances, 11 in the first half, then eight in the second half and we scored three goals, so it was a good day for us,” said Kaittisak Senamuang, the coach of Thailand afterwards.
With Timor Leste yet to settle down, Thailand grabbed the lead early in the third minute when Adisak Kraisorn raced ahead of his markers for a cut back to Thitiphan Puangjan for which the Muang Thong United frontman had little difficulty in putting the ball into an empty net.
Timor Leste tried hard to find their way into the Thai box but it was obvious that they lacked the pace to make any concrete effort as Sakolwach Sakolla and Praweenwat Boon Yong stood their ground at the heart of the Thai defence.
In the 18th minute, Thailand could have doubled their lead but after a nice playback from Pakorn Parmpak on the left, Pokklaw A Nan just blasted it wide of the far post.
But Pokklaw made up for the miss with a well-timed half volley in the 34th minute following a cross from Kroekrit Thawikan for Thailand to take a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.
Just four minutes after the restart, Thailand added their third goal of the game when Atit Daosawang slammed home the corner from Pokklaw.
Timor Leste got close in the 55th minute when Anggisu Barbosa crossed in from the right but the effort from striker Pedro Gois just failed to find the intended target.
Then suddenly, Timor came alive and after creating several chances on a trot, they finally broke through in the 74th minute when Jose da Fonseca squeezed in between the two central defenders before unleashing a grounder to beat Thai custodian Kawin Thamsatchanan.
Buoyed with confidence and also the surprising support from the stands, Timor pushed hard to add to their tally but it was not to be as the fast-tiring Thais just rode through all the way to the end.
“The players were jittery at the start and we paid for it. It is indeed a good lesson for them,” added Timor Leste coach Emerson Alcantara.
