BANGKOK (24 Feb 2012) – Hosts Thailand will take on Australia while Vietnam will entertain Indonesia in the semi-finals of the ASEAN zone qualifiers of the AFC Futsal Championship tomorrow.
Thailand emerged as Group A winners when they beat Indonesia 5-2 in their final group A match while a 2-2 draw between Vietnam and Australia in their final group clash saw the former taking Group B.
But it was the Indonesians who struck first when Afif Tamimy blasted in the lead two minutes in before Thankorn Penpakul drew level for the hosts just two minutes later. Suphawut Thueanklang then made it 2-1 to Thailand with his eighth goal of the campaign before Jetsada Chudech gave the home team a two-goal cushion to take into the break.
Jetsada scored his second and Thailand’s fourth in the 31st minute before Jirawat Sornwichian struck number five in the 36th minute, Three minutes after Caisar Oktavianus Silitonga pulled another one back for Indonesia for the final score line.
In the meantime, Vietnam overcame a half-time deficit and the 30th minute red card of Nguyen Hoang Gian to draw 2-2 with Australia. Australia were gifted a first-half lead at the Kiraves Indoor Stadium when Phung Trung Luan netted an own goal in the 13thminute – two minutes after Hoang Gian had received his first yellow card of the game.
Luu Quynh Toan drew Vietnam level four minutes into the second period before referee Kim Jang-kwan booked Hoang Gian for the second time six minutes later. Two minutes after Hoang Gian’s red card, Chris Zeballos gave his side a 2-1 lead but Australia’s advantage would last just for minutes, with Nguyen Trong Thien’s 36th minute strike earning the draw for Vietnam which saw them finish the group phase with seven points, two more than the Futsalroos.
Only the two finalists and the winner of the third-place playoff on Sunday will advance to the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship finals which will be held in the UAE in May.
FINAL GROUP STAGE STANDINGS
GROUP A
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | +/- | Pts |
| THAILAND | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 4 | 31 | 9 |
| INDONESIA | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 6 |
| PHILIPPINES | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 30 | -26 | 3 |
| MYANMAR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | -18 | 0 |
GROUP B
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | +/- | Pts |
| VIETNAM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 7 |
| AUSTRALIA | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 5 |
| MALAYSIA | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| CAMBODIA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 36 | -32 | 0 |
