Thais’ fate rests on last encounter
Semi-final race wide open after Azkal draw
Thailand survived an unrelenting rush of attacks in Bacolod last night to escape with a 1-1 draw against the Philippines in their third Group B game of the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup.
While Thailand held onto the top spot in the group with seven points — the same as the Philippines — the upshot has left them needing a victory in their only remaining round-robin stage battle to qualify for the semi-finals without being dependent on results of other games.
Title-holders Thailand play their last Group B match against former champions Singapore, who last night defeated Timor Leste 6-1, on Sunday at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium.
The top two teams in Group A and Group B advance to the semi-finals.
At Bacolod, young Supachai Chaided celebrated his first start in the tournament by netting a 56th-minute goal that ensured one point for the two-time defending champions. It was a nifty tap by the Buriram United forward as he guided home a short cross from Philip Roller.
The Philippines got the equaliser shortly after 80 minutes in a bizarre fashion.
Thailand goalkeeper Chatchai Butprom, making his debut in the Southeast Asian championship, went in the opposite direction to a Jovin Bedic’s deflected shot from the top of the box. The ball bounced back into play after hitting a post before spinning into the net.
Rajevac changed his tactics for the match, opting for a 4-4-2 formation that helped Supachai and True Bangkok United midfielder Pokklaw A-Nan get their first starts in the 2018 Asean championship.
The Serbian coach also decided to go into the match with Chatchai, resting Siwarak Tedsungnoen who marshalled the Thai goal during their 7-0 hammering of Timor Leste and 4-2 victory over Indonesia.
A heavy downpour which lashed the city of Bacolod until after the start of the match left the pitch soggy and the players from the two sides had trouble chasing the ball.
The Azkals had the upper hand for most parts of the first half, unleashing waves of attacks. The Thais, despite several defensive lapses, managed to go into the break unscathed.
The Philippines could have gone ahead early but their skipper Phil Younghusband was thwarted by Thai defender Chalermpong Kerdkaew.
Thailand striker Adisak Kraisorn, the top-scorer in the tournament with seven goals so far, tried to chip a long shot into the goal but goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard, who plays for Bangkok United, retracted back in time to make a good save.
As the Thai midfielders went invisible, the Philippines wrested control, forcing the War Elephants on the back foot.
Daisuke Sato, Patrick Reichelt, Manuel
Ott, Stephan Schrock and Stephen Palla all took turns to take shots at the Thai goal, but to no avail.