Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Thailand made it two wins from two as Suphawut Thueanklang and Jetsada Chudech each scored twice in a 7-2 victory over Chinese Taipei in Group C of the AFC Futsal Championship on Saturday.
Thailand were quickly out the blocks at Universal Stadium, going two up within the first five minutes through Suphawut and skipper Konghla Lakka before Chinese Taipei’s returning captain Chu Chia-Wei pulled one back in the 14th minute.
But an unfortunate deflection off Chang Chien-Ying from a Warut Wangsama-Aeo strike put Thailand 3-1 to the good early in the second half before Jetsada Chudech, Suphawut and Wiwat Thaijaruen scored further goals while Lai Ming-hui’s grabbed a consolation for Chinese Taipei.
“I think we played to 80% of our capabilities but sometimes we must be quicker when we’re passing the ball,” said Thailand coach Victor Hermans.
“The players all did well and I’m happy with how they played. We saw how Chinese Taipei made it difficult for Vietnam, but this looked very easy.
“It was a different game [than against Tajikistan] because Chinese Taipei had to attack us and not sit back. We concentrated better today and I’m very happy with the result.”
Thailand went in front in the second minute when Konghla played a free-kick into the path of Suphawut and he coolly curled into the left corner from distance for his fourth goal in two matches.
And two minutes later the two-time finalists doubled their advantage when Konghla finished from close in after controlled build-up play involving Suphawut and Jirawat Sornwichian.
As one-way traffic ensued Wiwat thumped against the post before Suphawut almost grabbed his second following a wonderful piece of skill from Warut.
Chinese Taipei then pulled one back seven minutes before the interval, though, when Chang laid the ball off for Chu, who perfectly executed his finish into the bottom corner.
But Thailand restored their two-goal lead shortly after the restart when Warut skipped down the right before his shot was deflected into his own net by Chang.
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And the Southeast Asians gave their opponents a mountain to climb in the 28th minute when Jetsada dispatched his left-foot effort with aplomb.
Suphawut volleyed home an excellent fifth from Jirawat’s pass as his rich vein of form continued, but Lai then gave his side hope with a neat finish five minutes from time.
Jetsada’s double and Wiwat’s second of the tournament in the last five minutes wrapped up a comfortable day at the office for Thailand.
“In the first five minutes we lost our concentration and we conceded the first two goals, so then we had to work hard to come back,” said Chinese Taipei coach Chen Yung-sheng.
“In the last 10 minutes of the first half we played very well; I didn’t expect in the second half to lose our concentration again.
“I told them at half-time we had a chance to get a goal back and win the game if they play how they did in the last 10 minutes of the first half. But we made too many mistakes at the back.”
Photo: AFC