THUMPING START FOR INDONESIA, THAILAND AND VIETNAM

While Indonesia made short work of Malaysia with a 7-3 scoreline and Thailand thrashing Myanmar 16-6, hosts Vietnam were made to sweat a little before they were able to get past Philippines with a 3-0 win.

Indonesia were the first off the block this afternoon and with their confidence brimming, they were quick to take a three-goal lead at the half off Topas Pamungkas in the fifth minute, Sayan Karmadi (14th) and Denny Handoyo (18th).

“I felt that we deserved the scoreline as we had more variety in our game,” said Justinus Lhaksana, the head coach for Indonesia afterwards.

“We had some young players in the squad and they came off strong on the day.”

Indonesia’s remaining goals were scored by Sayan (22nd and 35th minute), Denny (30th) and Amril Daulay (40th) while Malaysia got theirs off Addie Azwan Zainal (31st) and Safar Mohamad (36th and 37th minute).

Defending champions Thailand stayed true to the form book as youngster Keattiyot Chalaemkhet scored a personal best of four goals (5th, 6th, 12th and 35th minute) to lead them past Myanmar.

The other goals for Thailand were scored by Na-tee Thusiri (8th, 20th and 30th minute), Jirawat Sornwichian (13th), Jadet Pun poem (16th and 39th), Kritsada Wongkaeo (25th), Akkapol Kolmkciang (26th and 28th), Lai Seu Luai (29th, og), Suphawut Thuenklang (34th and 36th) and Jetsada Chudech (39th).

Myanmar’s goals were scored by Kyaw zin Nyunt (23rd minute), Zin Lin Aung (28th and 31st), Nyunt Win (38th) and Ye Naung (38th and 39th).

“The players played very well today but we have to check on the defence – we should not have conceded that many goals,” quipped Wisan Maivijit, the head coach for Thailand.

In the meantime, hosts Vietnam scored a convincing 3-0 win over the Philippines to make sure of their place in the semi-finals.

Huynh Ba Tuan opened the scoring in the fifth before Nguyen Quoc Binh added the second in the 24th minute and then Nguyen Bao Quan the third and final goal of the evening a minute later.

“Vietnam did not have a lot of experience but they played hard on the day and we got the result we wanted,“ said Pattaya Piemkum, the head coach for Vietnam.

FIXTURES and RESULTS (All matches at the Phu Tho Stadium)

8 June 2009
MALAYSIA 3 INDONESIA 7
THAILAND 16 MYANMAR 6
PHILIPPINES 0 VIETNAM 3

9 June 2009
1400hrs: Timor Leste vs Philippines
1600hrs: Malaysia vs Thailand
1800hrs: Myanmar vs Indonesia

10 June 2009
1400hrs: Myanmar vs Malaysia
1600hrs: Vietnam vs Timor Leste
1800hrs: Indonesia vs Thailand

12 June 2009
Semi-Finals

14 June
Third and Fourth Placing
Final