By Terry Fredrickson
Second half goals by Charyl Chappuis and Kroekrit Thaweekarn gave Thailand a first-leg 2-0 lead over Malaysia in the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup.
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2-0 win puts Thailand half way to Suzuki title
Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang: "I am pleased with the win but our mission is not yet complete. Our aim is to win back the trophy." PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL
After the War Elephants had squandered numerous chances earlier in the match, the turning point came in the 72nd minute when Thailand was awarded a penalty after Adisak Kraisorn was clearly tripped in the area. Thai-Swiss midfielder Charyl Chappuis then claimed the first goal with a precise shot, givingThailand a well-deserved lead. The Malaysian goalkeeper guessed correctly, but Charyl's drive was strong and accurate, ending up in the back corner of the goal.
Late in the match, Thailand's Lionel Messi, Chanathip Songkrasin, unselfishly set up Kroekrit Thaweekarn for a perfectly executed second goal, giving Kiatisak Senamuang's side a bit of a cushion going into the Saturday's second leg in Kuala Lumpur.
Thailand dominated play for most of the match, but it was Malaysia that twice came close to scoring within the first 20 minutes, forcing goalkeeper Kawin Thammasatchanan into two fine saves. Thailand then had numerous opportunities, but the finishing shots were either too high or just off target.
"Malaysia played very well and their defence was solid in the first half," said Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang afterwards.
"It was an exciting match. I am pleased with the win but our mission is not yet complete. Our aim is to win back the trophy.
"We have a 2-0 lead and the atmosphere at the 80,000-seat stadium in Kuala Lumpur will be a big test for our young players. But the Malaysia team will be under pressure too."
Malaysia coach Dollah Saleh said: "In the first half we played very well in defence but in the second half, I don't know what happened and the Thais played very well.
"At home, we will try our best. It is not easy when we are 2-0 down, but anything can happen in football especially when we play at home. I still believe that we can do better in Kuala Lumpur."
Thailand will get one million baht in bonus money for last night's win from the Football Association of Thailand.
The Thais are expected to receive more than 20 million baht in bonus and prize money if they lift the trophy on Saturday.
Story includes content from Bangkok Post sportswriter Tor Chittinand.
Pre-match story
Morning story
Thailand begin final quest
Kiatisak's men host Malaysia in first leg
Tor Chittinand
Thailand are ready to begin their push to regain the AFF Suzuki Cup when they host Malaysia in the first leg of the final at Rajamangala National Stadium tonight.
“We are ready for the final. Our players are looking forward to the final, and are fit enough to play for the whole 90 minutes tomorrow,’’ Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang said yesterday.
He said he had not yet decided whether to use midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin or forward Adisak Kraisorn as a lone striker.
Adisak was suspended for the War Elephants’ 3-0 win against the Philippines in the second leg of the semi-final at Rajamangala last week, following a scoreless draw in the first leg in Manila.
With first-choice striker Kirati Kaewsombut ruled out due to injury, Chanathip played as a lone striker and opened the scoring in the match.
Kiatisak won three Asean titles as a player and Thailand are now chasing a record-equalling fourth title.
One of Thailand’s best strikers of all time, Kiatisak captained the Thailand team that last won the crown in 2002. He has never lost to Malaysia as a player or as a coach.
Thailand captain and goalkeeper Kawin Thammasatchanan said he is hopeful his youthful team will not freeze on the big stage, as the War Elephants attempt to break a 12-year drought.
“In the last edition of the AFF Suzuki Cup [in 2012], we came close to the title [before losing to Singapore in the final],” said Kawin.
“To play two finals in a row is a difficult job but I would like to tell the Thai fans that we are eager to play the last two games of this tournament and win the title. We will have 50,000 fans cheering us on [at Rajamangala] and we are very well-prepared for the final.”
Malaysia coach Dollah Saleh said: “We came here to take a good result back to Malaysia, and we are ready to play.”
Malaysia have played well away from home in the current tournament. The Tigers beat hosts Singapore 3-1 in their final group game to advance to the semi-finals.
They lost 2-1 to Vietnam in the first leg of the semi-final in Kuala Lumpur but sealed a shock 4-2 win in Hanoi.
“Hopefully we can do the same in Bangkok as we did in Hanoi. I did not expect we would play that well but we did it. It is a good sign,” Saleh said.
Thailand beat Malaysia 3-2 in the group stage in Singapore with Adisak scoring twice and Saleh highlighted the danger posed by the Thai striker.
“Adisak does not miss many chances [as] he showed when he netted two goals against us in the group stage,” Saleh said.
He is also wary of Chanathip and winger Kroekrit Thaweekarn, who scored two goals against the Philippines.
“Chanathip plays like Lionel Messi," Saleh said.
"It is not easy to mark him while Kroekrit is tricky with his movements.''
The second leg of the final will be played at Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
Vocabulary
accurate: correct, exact and without any mistakes - ถูกต้อง, แม่นยำ
atmosphere: the mood or feeling that exists in a place - บรรยากาศ
brilliant: very skilful, impressive, or successful - ฉลาดหลักแหลม
claim: to get or win something - ได้มา, มีชัยชนะ
current: of the present time - ปัจจุบัน
cushion: something that protects you against something unpleasant that might happen - สิ่งที่ช่วยบรรเทา
defence: the players who must prevent the other team from scoring; the position of these players on the sports field - ผู้ป้องกัน
deserve: of something that you earn or are given because of your behavior or qualities - สมควรได้รับ
dominate: to be in control - มีอำนาจเหนือ ครอบคลุม ควบคุม
draw: a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points - เสมอกัน
drive: (in football) a powerful shot, a long hard kick - การเตะแรง
drought: a long period of time when something is lacking, usually, but not always rain - ความขาดแคลน
due to: because of - เนื่องจาก
eager: wanting to do or get something very much or enthusiastic about something that will happen - กระตือรือร้น
equal: having the same number, score, etc. - เท่ากัน, เสมอ
execute: to do or perform something, especially in a planned way - ดำเนินการ
fit: healthy and strong, especially because you do regular physical exercise - ที่มีสุขภาพดี, แข็งแรง, ที่เตรียมพร้อม
forward: an attacking player whose position is near the front of a team in some sports - ตำแหน่งกองหน้า
freeze: to stop moving suddenly because of fear, etc - หยุดอย่างกะทันหันเคลื่อนไม่ได้เนื่องจากความกลัว
group stage: the opening part of a tournament where the teams/players are put into groups and compete against other group members. The top teams/players (usually two) then go on to the next stage -
guess: to try and give an answer or make a judgement about something without being sure of all the facts - เดา
highlighted: stressed; made something more noticeable - ที่เน้นย้ำ
host: to provide the space and other things necessary for a special event - ทำหน้าที่เป็นเจ้าภาพ, เป็นผู้จัดรายการ
injury: physical damage done to a person or a part of their body - อาการบาดเจ็บ
knock: a sharp blow (hit) from something hard; an injury -
leg: one part of a competition - ผลัดหนึ่งในเกมการแข่งขันกีฬา
lone: single - เดี่ยว
looking forward to: feeling happy and excited about something that is going to happen - รอคอย
mark: (in football) to defend against an opponent ป้องกัน - ป้องกัน
midfielder: a football player whose position is mainly in the central part of a sports field - ผู้เล่นกองกลาง
mission: an important piece of work that a person or a group of people has been given to do - ภาระกิจ หน้าที่
numerous: many - มากมาย
on target: to hit what you aim at, eg. to score a goal in a football match - ตรงเป้าหมาย, ตามเป้าหมาย
opportunity: a chance to do something, or a situation in which it is easy for you to do something - โอกาส
physical: involving people touching or hitting each other a lot - ออกแรง
pose: to pretend to be something - วางท่า
precise: exact and accurate - แน่นอน, ถูกต้อง, เที่ยงตรง
preparation: things that you do to get ready for something or make something ready - การตระเตรียม
pressure: a worried feeling that you get when you have to deal with a difficult or complicated situation - ความกดดัน
quest: a long search for something, especially for some quality such as happiness - การแสวงหา
record: the best or most ever achieved - สถิติ
referee: a person who is in charge of a sports game and who makes certain that the rules are followed - ผู้ตัดสิน, กรรมการตัดสิน
regain: to get back something that was lost or taken away - ได้กลับมา
rule out: to stop considering something as a possibility - ประกาศว่าเป็นสิ่งที่เป็นไปไม่ได้
scoreless: without either team getting any points, goals, etc -
seal: to make something certain or complete - รับรอง, ยืนยัน
semi-finals: the two games that are played immediately before the last game in a sports competition. The two people or teams who win the semifinals play each other in the last game, called the final, to decide who wins the competition - การแข่งขันกีฬารอบรองชนะเลิศ
shock: to surprise, or frighten someone - ทำให้ตกใจ, ทำให้สั่นสะเทือน
sign: an event, an action, a fact, etc. that shows that something exists, is happening or may happen in the future - สัญญาณ
solid: strong; definitely good and steady but perhaps not excellent or special - แน่น, แข็ง
sparingly: in small quantities or amounts - อย่างประหยัด
squander: to waste something in a stupid or careless way - ถลุง, ผลาญ, เปลือง
stage: a raised area, usually in a theatre, etc. where actors, dancers, speakers etc. perform - เวที
striker: a football player whose job is to stay near the opponent’s goal and to score goals - ศูนย์หน้าตัวเป้า
suspended: not allowed to participate or to do a job for a period of time; not allowed to be used for a period of time - ถูกระงับ
the area: the penalty box; the area in front of the goal - เขตโทษ
title: the position of a winner in a sports competition - ตำแหน่งแชมป์
tournament: a competition for teams or single players in which a series of games is played, and the winners of each game play against each other until only one winner is left - การแข่งขัน
tricky: difficult to do or deal with - ยาก
trip: to catch or hit someone's foot/feet so that they fall or lose their balance - ทำให้สะดุดล้ม
trophy: a large silver cup or similar object given as a prize to the winner of a competition - ถ้วยรางวัล
unselfish: giving more time or importance to other people's needs, wishes, etc. than to your own - ซึ่งไม่เห็นแก่ตัว
wary: careful or nervous about someone or something because you think they might cause a problem - ระมัดระวัง
winger: one of the players in a game such as football, rugby, or hockey who play mainly down the right or left side of the field - นักฟุตบอลหรือนักรักบี้ที่เล่นในตำแหน่งปีก
