AFF SUZUKI CUP QUALIFIERS: Souk Aphone nails hat trick

Hosts Laos moved a step closer to securing a place in the final rounds when they defeated Brunei 4-1 here in the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying competition at the National Sports Complex Stadium. Today’s win comes hot on the heels of their opening 3-2 win over Cambodia two days ago.

Laos top the group for the time being as Timor Leste, who also won their opening game, will face Myanmar in the second match of the day later this evening. Laos do not have a game on the next match day which means they will have a three-day break before they face Timor Leste on Saturday.

Laos made two changes to their line-up while Brunei had a new keeper between the posts. The changes worked wonders for Laos, at least at the start of the game when they blasted two quick goals to surprise their opponents.

After almost scoring from a freekick from Souk Aphone, Laos took advantage of a defensive blunder to score the opening goal. In the fourth minute, Khampheng Sayavutth, the two-goal hero from their opening game 3-2 win over Cambodia, stole the ball from Shahrul Rizal Abd Rahman and raced towards the lonely keeper. Khampheng’s shot however was saved by Azman Ilham Md Noor but to his dismay.  Souk Aphone pounced on the rebound and scored.

Two minutes on and the Laos fans were on their feet again when Souk Aphone picked up a cross on the top left of the box, side-stepped a defender and rammed his shot beyond Azman. While Laos dictated play for most of the half, Brunei had some chances and in one of their attempts up, scored through Awangku Mohammad Fakharrazi Pg Hj Hassan who lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper.

After the break, Laos added two more goals through Khampheng and Souk Aphone who sent a low shot into the far right corner in the 49^th and 68^th minutes. Five minutes from the end, Khampheng’s crisp header whizzed just over the bar. Brunei finally struck it right when Muhammad Shah Razen Said found his mark in the 89^th minute.

Laos coach David Booth said after the match. “We started a lot better than our first game. But the soft goal we conceded placed pressure on us. The most important is that we have won our first two matches. I said before the first game that we want to first match, and I said the same thing about the second. Now, I’m saying let’s try and win the third (against Timor Leste).”

“Unfortunately, we all make mistakes. We made a mistake early in the first half but after the second goal, we controlled the game. Then, we made another mistake and we were chasing the game again. We have to analyse our game,” said Stephen Kean. He added he would watch the game again and see where the team went wrong and the positives in their game today.

Today’s loss was Brunei’s second and they will need to garner a good result against Myanmar in two days to keep their hopes alive.

THE TEAMS

LAOS: Soukthavy Soundala (GK), Ketsada Souksavanh (cpt), Saison Khounsamnan, Phoutdavy Phommasane, Khonesavanh Sihavong, Souk Aphone Vongchiengkham, Bounthavy Sipasong, Phoutthasay Khochalern, Sengdao Inthilath, Paseuthsack Souliyavong, Khampheng Sayavutth

Scorers: Souk Aphone Vongchiengkham (4^th, 6^th, 68^th), Khampheng Sayavutth (49^th)

Yellow: Sengdao Inthilath (88^th)

Head coach: David Booth

BRUNEI: Azman Ilham Md Noor (GK), Awangku Mohammad Fakharrazi Pg Hj Hassan, Shahrul Rizal Hj Abd Rahman, Azwan Muhammad Saleh, Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris, Rosmin Mohd Kamis (cpt), Mohammad Helmi Zambin, Reduan Petra, Mohd Najib Hj Tarif, Adi Said, Muhammad Shah Razen Said

Scorer: Awangku Mohammad Fakharrazi Pg Hj Hassan (32^nd), Muhammad Shah Razen Said (89^th)

Head coach: Stephen Kean

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mashentsev Dimitri (Kgz)

Assistant referee 1: Talipzhanov Ismailzhan (Kgz)

Assistant referee 2: Ahmad Moannes (Jor)

Fourth official: Adham Mohammad (Jor)

Match Commissioner: Chaichok Poompuang (Tha)

Referee Assessor: Mohd Ali Samad (Sin)

General Coordinator: Joseph Samuel (AFF) 

TODAY’S RESULTS

Brunei 2 Laos 4

Myanmar vs Timor Leste

REMAINING FIXTURES

Thursday, 16^th Oct 2014

1530: Timor Leste vs Cambodia

1830: Brunei vs Myanmar

Saturday, 18^th Oct 2014

1530: Cambodia vs Myanmar

1830: Laos vs Timor Leste

Monday, 20^th Oct 2014

1700: Myanmar vs Laos (National Sports Complex Stadium)

1700: Cambodia vs Brunei (Chao Anouvong Stadium) 

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