Teerathep brace seals Thailand victory

Thailand”s slick under-23 side underlined their status as raging favourites for the SEA Games title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Singapore in the final of a warm-up tournament in Bangkok on Wednesday.

In-form striker Teerathep “Leesaw” Winothai starred again for the home side, scoring twice to bring his tally for the pre-SEA Games championship to seven.

Thailand are eager to retain the SEA Games title to help erase memories of the senior side”s flop in the 2004 Tiger Cup which was won by Singapore.

The style of their triumph in the eight-team pre-SEA Games tournament sent a clear signal that they mean business. They scored 25 goals and conceded just two in five matches with their impressive midfield linking well with the strikers.

Indonesia and Vietnam, traditionally two of the strongest sides at this level in South East Asia, did not send teams to Bangkok but their national coaches saw enough to convince them that Thailand will be difficult to beat.

“The Thais are a very good side – they have been training and playing tournaments together for more than three months and they are like a club side,” said Indonesia”s coach Peter Withe, who previously guided Thailand. “They are the favourites for the SEA Games.”

Singapore captain Baihakki Khaizan agreed that the Thais were a class above the opposition.

“To be honest, they are the better side. They were better organised and technically sounder,” he told the Singapore media.

“We had difficulty coping with their mobility and their finishing was more clinical than ours.”
Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic added that he had a few players to bring in who would strengthen the squad for the SEA Games.

“From what I have seen here in Bangkok, I can say that Thailand are the favourites and that the standard at the SEA Games will be a lot higher than two years ago,” he said.

Thailand went into the final on a high having beaten Singapore 4-1 in group play and Teerathep quickly put them ahead, hitting home a cross from attacking midfielder Datsakorn Thonglao after eight minutes.

Teerathep, who has had training spells in England with Crystal Palace and Everton, scored the second from the spot in the 74th minute after Khairul Amri brought down Phichitpong Choechiu in the box.

Substitute striker Sompong Soleb added a third goal in injury time to complete a great night for the home side.

The SEA Games, regarded as the most important under-23 competition in South East Asia, will be staged in Bacolod City, Philippines, in November and early December.

Organisers told footballasia.com on Thursday that the draw will not be held until after entries close on October 27. Timor Leste, whose side arrived late for the Pre-SEA Games event in Bangkok after a 36-hour trip by road and air, have yet to decide if they will enter a team.

(Footballasia)