Courtesy: The AFC.com


Thailand 3-1 Indonesia

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Bangkok: Hosts Thailand won regional bragging right with a their 3-1 victory over Indonesia in the ASEAN Zone qualifying tournament final played on Sunday at the Krungthep Thonburi Indoor Stadium.

Already qualified for the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship to be held in the UAE in May, both the sides went into the match with full confidence and it was host Thailand who drew first blood with Penpakul Thankorn, who had also scored in Thailand’s 5-2 group stage vicotry over Indonesia, giving the hosts a 6th minute lead which they held until the interval.

Gustian Sukma Wardhana leveled the match inside two minutes into the second half only for Thailand to hit back through Thananchai Chomboon's 32nd minute before Indonesia's hopes of a comeback virtually vanished when Deny Handoyo struck anunfortunate own goal one minute from time.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Australia 4-3 Vietnam

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Bangkok: Australia booked a berth in the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship after seeing off a late Vietnamese rally to win the third-place playoff of the ASEAN Zone qualifiers 4-3 on Sunday.

In the match played at Krungthep Thonburi Indoor Stadium, Vietnam scored three late goals in the space of three minutes but Australia held on to win the match thanks to their brilliant start of the second half.

Finishing third means Australia joins Thailand and Indonesia from the ASEAN Zone to qualify for the finals to be held in the UAE in May.

Australia, who played a semifinal to forget on Saturday against hosts Thailand losing 7-0, had to wait till the first minute of the second half to break the deadlock.Henry Ngaluafe opened the scoring in the 21st minute and then doubled his and team’s tally two minutes later.

The Futsalroos, wary of their opponent’s comeback streak with Vietnam bouncing back twice from a goal down earn a 2-2 draw when the two sides met int the group stage, went 3-0 ahead thanks to Tobais Seeto’s strike in the 30th minute before it was looking certain for a comfortable victory for Australia when they went Gregory Giovenali put them 4-0 up with just five minutes remaining on the clock.

However, a minute later Giovenali received his second yellow card to get his marching orders from Kyrgyzstani referee Nurdin Bukuev and the Vietnamese took maximum advantage of playing against one-man less.

Vietnam pulled a goal back in the 36th minute through Nguyen Trong Thien before in-form Luu Quynh Toan, who scored against the Australians in the group stage and in the semi-final against Indonesia, scored a quickfire a brace with goals in the 37th and 38th minutes.

But with just two minutes remaining on the clock, the late rally was not sufficient and the Futsalroos held on to claim their place in the AFC Futsal Championship finals.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com