Thailand's reign under threat as challengers aim for ASEAN Futsal Championship title
Ho Chi Minh CIty: With qualification for the AFC Futsal Championships 2018 sealed, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar will now battle for Southeast Asian supremacy in the ASEAN Futsal Championship.
Thailand are the favourites for a 13th title but the other semi-finalists will be intent on ending their domination.
Such has been Thailand's dominance in the ASEAN Futsal Championship that their only blemish in the tournament's 13-year history was not winning the crown in 2010.
Winners of Group B, Jose Mendez's charges are unbeaten and will take on Pyae Phyo Maung and his Myanmar team in the semi-final on Wednesday.
Maung (pictured above), the top scorer with 11 goals to his name, will be aiming to dethrone Thailand's in a replay of last year's final, which Myanmar lost 8-1.
Myanmar coach Htay Myint admitted on Monday that he would have loved to avoid the favourites in the semi-finals.
“We really wanted to win today (MOnday) so as to avoid playing against Thailand in the semi-finals,” said Myint after losing 3-0 to Vietnam in their final Group A match to finish second.
In the other semi-final, Group A winners Vietnam will entertain Malaysia who have not beaten them since the 2015 edition.
Malaysia finished second in Group B, after losing 6-3 to Thailand in their final match, and will have to shake off the rust in front of goal.
“We recovered in the second half and if we had converted some of the chances, we could have made it even closer,” said Malaysian head coach Chiew Chun Yong.
Vietnam, on the other hand, will be looking to extend their perfect record in the tournament after finding the breakthrough late against Myanmar.
“We did not play well against Myanmar. Our defending was not good,” said Vietnam head coach Miguel Rodrigo.
“So we had to change tactics in the second half and slow the pace. We got two late goals but still we need to improve for the semi-finals.”
Sources: AFC, Asean Football Federation
Source: the-afc.com
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