SEA Games: Five-star Thais set up Myanmar football final

SINGAPORE: Thailand’s “Messi Jay” put the seal on a thumping 5-0 win over Indonesia as the defending champions stormed into the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games final against Myanmar on Saturday.
Chanathip Songkrasin, glowingly compared to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, scored in the last minute to round off an emphatic semifinal victory in Singapore.
The scale and manner of the win will install Thailand as raging favorites for Monday’s final against dark horses Myanmar, who rode their luck in a 2-1 upset of Vietnam.
It also gives Indonesia a chastening send-off into the international wilderness after they were suspended by world body FIFA over political interference.
Thailand attacked fluently from the outset and it was no surprise when Rungrat Phumichantuk, pouncing on a rebound, put them in front on 13 minutes.
Thitiphan Puangjan nodded Thailand’s second in the 29th minute before Rungrat got his second thanks to Nurul Sriyankem’s perfect cross six minutes after half-time.
Narubadin Weerawatnodom produced a tight finish on 57 minutes to make it four before “Messi Jay” Chanathip, who had hit the post, grabbed the fifth.
“We are not Barcelona — we get gold first and then we talk,” said Thai coach Promrut Choketawee.
Earlier fortune smiled on Myanmar as they shocked a vibrant Vietnam side 2-1, helped by a penalty and a wickedly deflected winner.
Myanmar’s youngest player, 18-year-old Si Thu Aung, converted a penalty on 39 minutes after Vietnam’s Ho Ngoc Thang inadvertently blocked a free-kick with his elbow.
Vietnam responded with all-out attack as they dominated the match but they were thwarted by Myanmar’s inspired goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo and their own wayward finishing.
The Vietnamese finally equalized in the 72nd minute through midfielder Vo Huy Toan with an easy tap-in to an empty net.
But Myanmar snatched victory when Lin Nay Tun’s shot looped off a defender and into the net on 80 minutes.
The win was a surprise even to Myanmar’s coach Kyi Lwin, after free-flowing Vietnam failed to convert their chances in wave after wave of attack.
“I feel very surprised about the result and I would like to thank all our players,” said the coach, a silver-medallist from Myanmar’s only previous final appearance in 1993.