YANGON (16 Dec 2013) – Thailand scrapped into the semi-finals of the SEA Games despite being held by bottom-placed Cambodia in their last Group B match here at the Youth Training Centre Stadium evening.
The Cambodians put up their best performance of the tournament tonight. Their hero was goalkeeper Sou Yaty who managed to stop everything the Thai strikers threw at him.
The Thais finished the preliminary stage unbeaten with a total of eight points and currently top the group.
The other team to advance from Group B will either be hosts Myanmar or Indonesia who will square off here later tonight.
With nothing to lose Cambodia went all out and to their credit, almost struck home in the first ten minutes.
In a space of two minutes, Cambodia had two great chances. In the seven minute, Prak Mony Udom set up Phourng Saksana but his shot was saved.
A minute later, Chhin Chhoeun raced down the right flank and let loose a stiff grounder which sailed across the goal mouth.
Thailand’s best chance arrived in the 24th minute, unfortunately, Chanathip Songkrasin was slow to connect from skipper Chananan Pombubpha who had rounded the keeper.
Cambodia missed another open goal five minutes after the break. The villain this time was Phourng who failed to control his shot although the keeper was out position.
A defensive slip up almost gave Thailand the lead but Chutipon Thongtae’s powerful strike was pushed out by an alert Sou Yaty.
Thailand tried to step things up in the last 15 minutes but their efforts were all thwarted by solid defending and excellent work from the keeper.
