Powerhouse Thailand showed their quality this evening when they came back from three goals down to beat Malaysia 5-3 in the second semi-final of the AFF AIS Futsal Championship 2016 here at the Indoor Stadium Huamark.
Jangled nerves mixed with a heavy potency of over enthusiastic young’ins, the Thais would soon find themselves falling behind barely a minute into the game when Saiful Nizam Mohd Ali blasted in past reserve keeper Kanison Phoopun.
Thailand tried to get their act together but was often foiled by Malaysian keeper Mohd Firdaus Razali.
Eight minutes later, the Malaysians went ahead again through Mohd Khairul Effendy Mohd Bahrin as they then finished the first half 3-0 with Syed Aizad Daniel Syed Nasir (12th).
“I did not speak on tactics or anything in terms of defence or attacking. I just told the players to look for that moment of brilliance,” said Thailand head coach Miguel Rodrigo.
“We just need that one goal and that would change everything.”
And that one goal came just a minute into the second half through up and coming star Muhammad Osamanmusa, who then added two more goals (24th and 25th) to put things on level terms.
With the rising confidence from the Thai sides, the Malaysians found themselves back-pedalling as the home team then finished things off with a double from Jirawat Sornwichian (35th and 39th minute).
In the meantime, Myanmar were already through to the final earlier when they beat Timor Leste 8-3.
After absorbing the early pressure, Myanmar carved the first goal of the game through Naing Ye Kyaw in the 12th minute as Timor replied just moments later off Manuel Sarmento.
But having tasted their first goal, there was no stopping Myanmar from piling the pressure where they duly grabbed a 3-1 lead at the half when Aung Zin Oo (17th minute) and Aung Aung (19th) scored.
“We are of course very happy to be in the final. It was a very difficult game. But we kept our nerves,” said Myanmar captain Aung Aung afterwards.
The second half was all Myanmar as they struck three more goals in quick succession off Nyein Min Soe (23rd minute) and a double from Pyae Phyo Maung (25th and 31st) to put the score at 6-3.
Two more goals at the tail end of the tie from Aung Aung (35th) and then Sai Pyone Aung (37th) settled matters as Myanmar make their first ever final appearance at the AFF Futsal Championship.
AFF FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2016
RESULTS – 27 Jan 2017
SEMI-FINALS
1630: Myanmar 8 Timor Leste 3
1900: Thailand 5 Malaysia 3
FIXTURES – 29 Jan 2017
1630 (3rd & 4th): Timor Leste vs Malaysia
1900 (Final): Myanmar vs Thailand
