JP\/6\/THAI<\/p>\n
Thailand show why they are title favorites<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): After scoring two straight wins,
\ndefending champions Thailand are clearly the hot favorites to
\nlift the men's football title again in this edition of the SEA
\nGames, which for the first time is an under-23 tournament.<\/p>\n
The Thais, who showed speed and precision passing, could have
\nbeaten frontrunners Singapore by a wider margin yesterday if not
\nfor the outstanding performance of Singapore goalkeeper Lionel
\nLewis.<\/p>\n
Thailand's coach Dolez Otaka, however, played down their
\nchances, saying that at the moment he was only confident of a
\nsemi-final slot.<\/p>\n
After the 7-0 thrashing of Cambodia in their first game and
\nthe 1-0 win over Singapore, the Thais will play minnows Laos on
\nFriday and Myanmar on Monday to complete their fixtures in Group
\nA. Thailand are expected to top the group.<\/p>\n
\"Even against Laos we have to be very careful as their number
\n10 (Nitsavong Khovn Phachansy) and number 11 (Bounvong
\nVannabovathong) are very skillful...all the Laotian players are
\nvery fit,\" Otaka said.<\/p>\n
Laos were beaten 0-4 by Singapore in their first game.<\/p>\n
Otaka was pleased with the way his team have been playing,
\nespecially hotshot striker Manit Noyvach and teenage sensation
\nTeeratep Winnothai who have been combining very well.<\/p>\n
Manit scored a hat-trick, the first in this Games, in their
\nwin over Cambodia, while Teeratep scored the first goal of the
\ntournament, also against Cambodia. Teeratep was on target again
\nyesterday, scoring the winner against Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"Our upfront duo, Manit and Teeratep, combined very well and
\nalmost scored on three occasions against Singapore,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Otaka reminded his players to stay focused and not to be
\ncarried away by the two victories.<\/p>\n
When pressed further whether he was confident of taking the
\nteam to the final, he said he would rather take one match at a
\ntime.<\/p>\n
\"At the moment we are confident of a semifinal place. Vietnam,
\nIndonesia and hosts Malaysia in the other group are about the
\nsame or stronger than Singapore,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Thais, who have won a record nine football gold medals in
\nthe Games, including four in a row from 1993 to 1999, are now
\ngunning to equal Myanmar's record of five consecutive gold
\nmedals. Myanmar, known as Burma before, were the joint champions
\nwith Thailand in 1965, and retained the gold in 1967, 1969, 1971
\nand 1973.<\/p>\n
Singapore coach Fleming Nielsen conceded that Thailand are the
\noverwhelming favorites to lift the title again, saying that his
\nteam were lucky to be beaten only 0-1 by the Thais.<\/p>\n
\"We made a mistake in the first half by holding back which
\ngave ample space to the Thai midfield...our offensive midfielders
\ndid not seem to exist at all in the first half.<\/p>\n
\"I am always disappointed when losing but we have to accept
\nthat the best team win,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Singapore, who are tipped to qualify for the semifinals
\nalongside Thailand from Group A, will play Cambodia on Wednesday
\nand Myanmar on Friday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp6thai-1447899208",
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