YANGON (6 Sept 2017) – Yuthapichai Lertlum smashed in a double as Thailand edged Laos 2-1 in a Group A tie of the AFF Under-18 Championship here at the Thuwunna Stadium.
With Thailand having beaten Timor Leste in their first game two days before, the win this evening kept them in touch of leaders Malaysia who had beaten Singapore in an earlier match.
“We did not play exceptionally well today,” said Suriya Chaisuk. “There were some positional changes which we had to cope with.”
The Thais eager to make up for the loss last year when they lost the final to Australia, were clearly the better side in the opening exchanges.
It took them just ten minutes to get on to the score sheet when Laos defender Phimmasone Champathoing was yellow carded for bringing down Suriya inside the box.
Yuthapichai had little difficulty to send Laos keeper Xaynakhone Dalasean the wrong way for the lead.
Thailand finished the first half 2-0 in front when Yuthapichai grabbed his second of the evening with an opportunistic strike as he slapped in a 26th minute rebound.
Laos got their act together in the second half with midfielder Bounpachan Bounkong a thorn in the Thai defence with his excellent ball control.
But with the many chances went a begging, it took a free kick deep in injury time for defender Phoutthasit Phommachai to score from close range.
“I thought we were better than Thailand in the second half,” said Bounpachan. “We tried to match them but it was just unfortunate that we slip up.”
RESULTS – GROUP A
Malaysia 3 Singapore 1
Cambodia 1 Timor Leste 1
Laos 1 Thailand 2
FIXTURES – GROUP B
7 Sept 2017 – All matches at the Thuwunna Stadium
1500: Brunei vs Vietnam
1800: Philippines vs Indonesia
CURRENT STANDINGS (as at 6 Sept 2017)
| Group A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malaysia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Thailand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Singapore | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Cambodia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 |
| Timor Leste | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
| Laos | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
| Group B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Brunei DS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Indonesia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Philippines | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Myanmar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Vietnam | ||||||||
