Courtesy: New Straits Times


FUTSAL: Thais thump national team

by Devinder Singh

THE national futsal team found regional heavyweights Thailand too hot to handle as the hosts stormed into the AFF Futsal Championship final after a 12-1 romp in the semi-finals in Bangkok yesterday.

Thailand effectively had the match sewn up by half-time when they led 8-0 against the 2010 runners-up as Malaysia coach Maizal Marzuki admitted the shortcomings of his side.

"It was a good experience for some of the newcomers and they can only learn from this defeat against a world-class team," said Maizal after the chastening defeat.

Thailand, who won all seven editions of the championship before giving 2010 a miss, signaled their intention of regaining their crown in the first minute when Supahwut Thueanklang opened the floodgates.

Additional goals by Jirawat Sornwich (fifth minute), Nattawut Madyalan (ninth), Suphawut (13th and 20th), Jetsada Chudech (15th and 17th) and Kritsada Wongkaeo (19th) gave Thailand a comfortable eight-goal lead at the break.

Suphawut took his tally to five with strikes in the 26th and 28th minutes before Kritsada Wongkaeo (26th) and Nattawut (38th) added two more with Qaiser Abdul Kadir scoring Malaysia's consolation in the 35th minute.

In tomorrow's final, Thailand will face Vietnam, who deposed 2010 champions Indonesia 5-3 in the other semi-final.




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