Bangkok BTS of Thailand put up a commanding display to thrash Melaka United of Malaysia 6-1 to win Group B of the AFF Futsal Club Championship that was played at the GOR UNY here in Jogjakarta.
Indonesian representative SKN FC also made the passage to the next round after rounding off Sanatech Khanh Hoa of Vietnam 9-2 in an earlier group tie.
Following the completion of the round of matches in both groups, Bangkok BTS will take on MIC FC of Myanmar in the semi-finals in two days as SKN entertain East Coast Heat FC in the other tie.
With plenty at stake today in Group B, the double headers would prove to be nothing less than explosives as all four teams are within mathematical chance of making to the next round.
And SKN seemed to soak up the pressure of expectations as they ramped up their game to soar to an 8-0 lead at the half.
Sanatech did not know what hit them as Yusuf Ahmad Khaerudin started the ball rolling with the first goal of the game in the very first minute of play before SKN tore Sanatech apart soon after.
SKN were on target off Zakariyya Anwar (8th and 14th minute), Khalid El Hattach (12th), Fahrudin Haryono (12th), Said Bouzambou (13th), Jeni Firmansyah (16th) and Johanis Mustamu (17th).
Sanatech tried to regroup after the restart but in spite of everything they threw at SKN, custodian Iksan Rahadian had an excellent game and seem to have at least a finger to the ball to deny them.
And while Sanatech still managed to find the back of the net twice through Khong Dinh hung in the 33rd minute and Pham Huynh Duc in the 40th minute, SKN were just too confident as they added their final game of the game in the 39th minute through Fahrudin for the final scoreline.
“It was a much better performance from the players and we are naturally happy to make the semi-finals of the championship this year,” said SKN head coach Deny Handoyo.
In the meantime, there was no surprise or improvements from Melaka United’s poor performance from their previous match when they fell tamely to a 6-1 loss at the hands of Bangkok BTS.
BTS captain Punyapon Pumwiset played a pivotal role with his defensive-offensive quality for them to score through Nawin Rattawongswas in the second and 26th minute.
The remainder of BTS’ goals were scored by Peerapol Satsue in the 13th minute, Atiwat Pilbalsing (17th), Muhammad Osamanmusa (23rd) and Nattikorn Namkhan (25th).
Melaka’s only goal of the game came in the 28th minute through Jamaluddin Alis.
RESULTS
GROUP B
SKN FC (INDONESIA) 9 Sanatech Khanh Hoa (VIETNAM) 2
Bangkok BTS (THAILAND) 6 Melaka United (Malaysia) 1
