Thailand retains Tiger Cup

Thailand retains Tiger Cup

Musthofid and Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The ten-man Thailand team beat Indonesia 6-4 in the penalty
shootout in the final match to win the Tiger Cup for the third
time at the Bung Karno Stadium here on Sunday.

While Indonesia's failure was ruefully lamented given the fact
that Thailand played with ten men almost from the start of the
second half, Indonesia failed to avenge its defeat to the same
team in the 2000 final.

Earlier in the day, Vietnam beat Malaysia 2-1 to take the
third spot in the Tiger Cup, the biennial soccer tournament for
South East Asian nations.

Chukiat Noosalung was expelled from the pitch in the 56th
minute following his harsh foul on Gendut Doni Christiawan. The
defending champion was then leading the host team 2-1.

Noosalung and Terdsak Chaiman, who was voted "best player" at
the end of the tournament, put Thailand ahead 2-0 before
Indonesia reduced the gap, thanks to Yaris Riyadi's goal just
three minutes into the second half of the game.

Despite playing against ten men and having the support of the
home crowd packed inside the 110,000-person Bung Karno Stadium,
Ivan Kolev's team looked desperate on the attacking front against
the resolute Thais.

The equalizer came ten minutes before the end of the game when
Gendut Doni Christiawan swept up the flank before firing home a
hard goal past goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa.

Indonesia upped the pressure but Thailand, forced to camp deep
in their defense sparing a counter-attack only now and then,
defended resiliently to deny the home team a winning goal.

The scoreboard did not change after the extra time, which
prompted the penalty shootout.

Sakda Joemdee, Terdsak Chaiman, Manit Noyvach and Dusit
Chalermsan accomplished their task well. The only failed shot on
goal was by team star Kiatisuk Senamuang, who kicked the ball
high.

On the Indonesian side, Bambang Pamungkas, who came out as the
tournament's top scorer with eight goals, and Imran Nahumarury
managed to score, while Sugiantoro and Firmansyah kicked their
balls into the post or too wide.