The AFF Suzuki Cup 2016 has officially begun!
Held at the Philippine Sports Stadium at Bulacan, the debut match saw 2014 Suzuki Cup champions Thailand taking on Indonesia. While the War Elephants were fresh and motivated from a draw against Australia in the World Cup Qualifier, the Reds and Whites were without their golden boy, Irfan Bachdim.
We still gave each team equal chances, but Peerapat showed us what Thailand was capable of when he scored an easy goal pass two Indonesian defenders at the fifth minute. The Indonesian defenders carelessly half cleared the ball and failed to get back into position to stop Peerapat who sprinted down from the left.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=WC_HmwYyDq0
The game slowed down after the first goal, with occasional counter attacks by Indonesia. Boaz Solossa tried to work some magic on the flank, but no to avail. Thailand continued to dominate the game, and it seemed almost too easy.
Andik Vermansyah sent a few beautiful crosses to the centre but it was either missed or cleared by defenders. This pace carried on until the ref blew the whistle, wrapping up the first half.
As the second half kicked off, the Reds and Whites fumed with vengeance. Boaz Solossa and Andik Vermansyah pushed upfront for Indonesia’s first goal. At the 55th minute, their efforts paid off. An over-the-head cross by Rizki Pora found its way into the back of the net after an unmarked Boaz rose for a header.
One minute later, Indonesia equalised with another beautiful header from Lerby Eliandry, jolting a very over-confident Thailand awake.
But the War Elephants were not going to let their efforts go down the drain. Thailand manoeuvred into the penalty area, and the impatient Teerasil shoots the ball right on target and into the net, putting the War Elephants back in front at the 90th minute.
At this point, the burning question in our head was, “Will Teerasil score a hat trick?” He does. Another string of passes left the ball with Teerasil who wasted no time and tapped the ball in at the 92nd minute.
It was game over for Indonesia as the Thais sealed their win and the ref went for the full time whistle.
Watch the match highlights here:
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