Indonesian own goal hands Thailand victory<\/p>\n
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (AP): Yusuf Ekodono scored an
\nintentional own goal with less than a minute left as Thailand
\nunwillingly beat Indonesia 3-2 Monday in a farcical Tiger Cup
\nsoccer match that neither team wanted to win.<\/p>\n
Vietnam Television reported that the match inspector said he
\nwould recommend to the ASEAN Football Federation that the result
\nbe scrapped.<\/p>\n
Only a lopsided Indonesia victory would keep both teams from
\nadvancing to the semifinals from Group A. But whoever won the
\ngroup faced the undesirable prospect of flying to Hanoi to play
\nhost Vietnam before a rabid crowd on Wednesday, National Day.<\/p>\n
The result was such a poor display that the half-capacity
\ncrowd which had cheered so strongly during Myanmar's spirited 5-2
\nwin over the Philippines in the opener had virtually vanished 15
\nminutes into the match.<\/p>\n
The ESPN International commentator openly derided the match,
\nwhich was shown live regionally and certainly will be a black eye
\nfor Asian soccer.<\/p>\n
Several stars sat out for each team. Neither side made a
\nserious move on goal in a first half where there was not a single
\nwhistle, and hardly a smear on a single uniform, despite a
\ndeteriorating, muddy pitch.<\/p>\n
It appeared that tournament officials must have talked with
\nboth teams at the break, because Indonesia came out with more
\nspirit. It also knew that a tie was the same as a victory because
\nit already was atop the standings. Only a loss would move
\nThailand into first.<\/p>\n
Mirobaldo Bento found virtually no resistance on a crossing
\npass in the 52nd minute to put Indonesia up 1-0. Thailand finally
\ncame to life, but as soon as Krisasha Piandet equalized in the
\n65th minute, the Thais died again.<\/p>\n
Aji Santoso put Indonesia back ahead 2-1 in the 85th minute,
\nand Thailand went on the move again, with Thersak Chaiman tying
\nthe score at 2-2 in the 89th minute.<\/p>\n
Then, with time running down, Indonesia moved the ball down
\ndeep into its own territory. Two quick passes, and Yusuf scored
\nas goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko, who earlier had made several
\noffensive forays to leave the goal open, stepped out of the way.<\/p>\n
Thailand didn't have enough time to even think of employing
\nthe same tactic at its own end.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-own-goal-hands-thailand-victory-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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