AFF U19: Thailand, Indonesia in the semis

Thailand, the defending champions, emerged the group winners after edging Indonesia 2-1 in their final AFF Under-19 Championship Group A match at the Gelora Delta Stadium tonight. Thailand will now join Indonesia, which already qualified for the semis prior to tonight’s match, in the last four.

This result meant that even if Vietnam had beaten Singapore tonight, they still would not have advanced. Although Vietnam grabbed the lead, they eventually were held to a 2-2 draw by Singapore. Thailand topped the group with 13 points while Indonesia are second with 12 and Vietnam next with eight.

Thailand’s and Indonesia’s opponents in the last four will be determined tomorrow when the last Group B matches are played out. Malaysia, Myanmar and Timor Leste are all in the running to advance. Tomorrow, Myanmar and Malaysia, with seven points each, square off while Timor Leste play Cambodia.

At the Gelora Delta Stadium tonight, the atmosphere was electrifying with almost 30,000 fans chanting and cheering their team on. And their players responded by coming out fighting. In the fifth minute, a quick exchange between Saddil Ramdani and Hanis Saghara Putra ended in a fruitless corner.

Soon after though, the Thais began to take charge and launched several raids on their opponent’s goal. The Indonesian defence also made some errors which the Thais were unable to exploit. The Thais kept up the pressure, and with strikers Sittichok Paso, Matee Sarakum and Suphanat Mueanta, leading the charge, the hosts had their work cut out for them.

In the 28^th minute, Nakin Wisetchat let loose a powerful swerving shot which the goalkeeper somehow managed to block. The ball dropped just off the goal line, and fortunately, Nurhidayat Haji Haris managed to boot it away. The Thais had another whiff at goal, this time from Matee in the 32^nd minute. Then, four minutes from the break, it finally happened, and for a brief moment there was silence. Sittichok relayed the ball back to midfielder Nattawut Chootiwat who made no mistake and blasted his shot in to grab the lead.

The Thais shot into attack and soon found the net again, just a few minutes into the half. Sittichok worked his way down the right and crossed to an unmarked Matee who ran in and easily connected the ball home in the 50^th minute.

But Indonesia, although they were already in the next round, refused to give up and gallantly fought hard as they hunted for goals. Their efforts paid off and in the 84^th minute, Indonesia hauled themselves back into the game. The nippy Todd Ferre split the defence, and took a shot, however, it came off the post. To the delight of the crowd, defender Muhammad Rifad Marasabessy rushed in and planted the rebound in the back of the next.

At the Joko Samudro Stadium in Gresik, Vietnam, which needed to win and hope for Indonesia to down Thailand, failed to get the score they were looking for. They grand the lead in the 17^th minute through Nguyen Huu Thang but Singapore equalised just past the hour mark with a strike from Akmal Azman.

Vietnam regained the lead in the 76^th minute when Le Van Nam hit the mark but Singapore which had lost all their four previous matches, earned their first point when Muhammad Syahadat Masnawi equalised in the 86^th minute.

In the first match at the Joko Samudro Stadium in Gresik, 10-man Laos outplayed 9-man Philippines 7-2 to earn their second win of the tournament so far. They had earlier beaten Singapore but lost to Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. In a match that had no bearing on the top two positions, Laos struck first after only four minutes through Phouthasone Vongkosy but Fidel Victor Palogan Tacardon levelled terms in the 16^th minute.

Ten minutes later, Shaden Vergara and Lextoxa Thongsavath got into a scuffle and both were duly sent-off. Soon after Bounphachan Bounkong pulled on his scoring boots and hammered a remarkable four goals within 19 minutes (35^th, 39^th, 47^th, 54^th). Nilan completed the rout with two goals in 79^th and 85^th minutes.

Philippines had Geri Martini Vellgania Rey sacked in the 58^th minute before Fidel blasted a second in the 20 minutes later. Philippines completed their group fixtures with one win (over Singapore in their opening game) but lost their remaining games.

The semi-final fixtures will be settled tomorrow when the last of the Group B matches are staged with Cambodia facing Timor Leste while Malaysia battle Myanmar.

RESULTS 

FIXTURES (remaining group stage matches)

July 10 – Group B: Cambodia vs Timor Leste, Malaysia vs Myanmar

For the complete fixtures, go to http://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/aff-u19-championship-2018/#1526567058939-ef16c19b-91be

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