Suzuki Cup: Thailand wins as young players fight back from brink of defeat

The young Thai team staged a remarkable comeback, conceding 3 goals before getting two late goals of their own from Charyl Chappuis and Chanathip Songkrasin to win the AFF Suzuki Cup with an aggregate score of 4-3 โ€“ a match few will forget.

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20:55

Thailand are Suzuki Cup champions on late comeback

"A beautiful game," says Kiatisak

This is just in from  our online reporters:

"We played a beautiful game, a fantastic game," Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang said after the match.

The winner was also awarded 25 million baht.

Chanathip said the Thai team didn't panic after seeing three goals from Malaysia and continued to play at their own pace.

Defeat was cruel for Malaysia, who appeared to have pulled off another great escape after they overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit in the semi-final against Vietnam by winning 4-2 in Hanoi.

Full time:

Thailand are champions. Let the celebrations begin. It should be noted, however, that the late Thai goals overshadowed a fine performance by Malaysia's Safiq Rahim who scored two splendid goals on a penalty kick and a curving free kick.

20:50 Just ten minutes ago things looked bleak for the young Thai team, but two quick goals, the last a superb long strike by Chanathip Songkrasin, has given Thailand a 4-3 aggregate lead with only minutes to go. Malaysia now needs two goals.

20:42 Thailand's Charyl Chappuis has just scored off the rebound of a well-taken free-kick. That evens the aggregate score at 3-3 but Thailand now has its crucial away goal.

20:20  Malaysia has just scored its third goal of the match on well-executed free kick. That gives them an aggregate 3-2 lead with 30 minutes to go. A Thai goal would put the Thais in the driver's seat, however, because Malaysia failed to score in Bangkok.

Half-time update

Thailand continued to dominate for long periods but, once again, lacked the finishing touch, taking many more shots than the Malaysians but ending up behind 0-2. The Malaysian got a lucky break early on when the referee awarded a questionable penalty. 

Malaysia then scored its second goal literally of the last-second of injury time when Malaysian forward Indra Putra Mahayuddin headed home a cross with the Thai defence in disarray. Thai goalkeeper Kawin Thammasatchanan first tried to cut the ball off but it went beyond him, leaving the Malaysian with an open net with three Thai defenders around him.

Pre-match report

Here is the pre-match report. I'll post a quick post-match report tonight – hopefully reporting a Thai victory.

Kiatisak determined to secure title

Thailand coach believes players can cope with hostile atmosphere at Bukit Jalil as Malaysia look to overturn a 2-0 deficit

Tor Chittnand

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang yesterday vowed to bring home the AFF Suzuki Cup trophy after today’s second leg of the final.

“Tomorrow’s game, I want to see a beautiful game. Malaysia have a strong team. We have a two-goal lead but it is not easy. There will be a big crowd and we must get the trophy back to Thailand,” the 41-year-old coach told a press conference.

“I forget the last match — we start now zero-zero. Our style is an attacking style.”

Although Thailand lead 2-0 after the first leg in Bangkok on Wednesday, Kiatisak said he had no intention of letting his players sit back and defend in today’s decider.

“We will play safe but that does not mean we will just sit back and try to protect our lead. It could be dangerous if we only try to defend our goal,’’ said Kiatisak, who won the Asean title three times as a player.

Thailand have won the crown three times, the last in 2002 when Kiatisak was captain of the Thai team.

Kiatisak is confident his youthful team can handle the intimidating atmosphere expected at the 100,000 capacity Bukit Jalil Stadium.

He said he had told his players to focus on their roles and block out the crowd.

“Of course I believe my players will not be nervous. I tell them the main target is peak performance in your position. You must learn how to play under pressure. Just play well, just only play football,’’ said Kiatisak.

“Many of them played at the SEA Games in Myanmar [last December]. We also played against hosts South Korea at the Asian Games [this year].”

Under Kiatisak, the Thai U23 side won the 2013 SEA Games gold medal and reached the semi-finals at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

Kiatisak later told Thai reporters that his players preferred playing in front of a big crowd.

“They said they like playing before a lot of people,’’ he said.

Thailand are seeking a record-equalling fourth title but their first for 12 years, while Kiatisak is trying to become the first person to win it as a player and a coach.

An away goal would put the Thais well on the way to victory and Adisak Kraisorn is fully aware of that.

“We are ready to play. It will not be easy but if I get a chance I must score,’’ said Adisak, who scored two goals in Thailand’s 3-2 win against Malaysia in the group stage in Singapore.

Thailand will wear red shirts for the first time in the 2014 tournament. Thailand, who normally use blue shirts, have to switch to red ones because Malaysia, who normally wear yellow shirts, have chosen blue jerseys for the decider.

“Red means victory and we will bring back the trophy,’’ Thailand manager Kasem Jariyawatwong said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia coach Dollah Salleh will be looking for his team to make the most of home ground advantage.

Thailand have not conceded a goal in their last four games and Salleh knows that his players will have to re-double their efforts if they are to lift the trophy for a second time.

“It is not easy to play against Thailand. We will have to give 200 percent to stop ‘Zico’ [Kiatisak] taking the trophy to Thailand and we must take advantage of playing on home ground,” he said.

“They are fast and skilled. Stamina-wise, I think that they are much better than us. But this is our home ground and we must do something for our fans because we don’t want something similar to what happened in the first leg against Vietnam [which Malaysia lost 2-1].

“We still have 90 minutes and we will give our very best.”

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