THAILAND 0:0 VIETNAM

05 August 1999 16:00 TST.  SEA GAMES 1999, Brunei

Report by: AFC NET

Cautions:
Surachai Jirasirichote (THA) (7'), NGUYEN DUC THANG (VNM) (42'), Chukait Noosalung (THA) (77'), DANG PHOONG NAM (VNM) (79'), Anuruck Srikero (THA) (90').

Spectator: 7000

Thailand and Vietnam almost certainly guaranteed themselves places in the semi-finals of the SEA Games soccer competition after grinding out a 0-0 draw in yesterday's top-of-the table Group A match.

The two teams remained level on points after the match at the Berakas Stadium petered out to a tame stalemate. Thailand are ahead of Vietnam on goal difference.

Both sides will reach the semi-finals as long as they can avoid heavy defeats in Sunday's final round of preliminary matches. Thailand play Burma and Vietnam take on Philippines.

In yesterday's other Group A match, Burma's hopes of making the semi-finals effectively ended when they were held to a 0-0 draw against Laos. They now need to beat Thailand by six goals to advance.

Goalmouth action was in short supply yesterday for the crowd of more than 5,000 Thai workers and Vietnamese fans.

Thailand's Surachai Jaturapattarapong had a long-range shot blocked after 10 minutes and 12 minutes later Tawan Sripan had a free-kick charged down.

Thailand's star striker Kiatisak Senamuang was tightly marked by Nguyen Thien Quang but he still managed to set up a chance for Surachai which the Vietnamese defence cleared.

The game continued with Thailand having most of the play but they rarely looked like breaking through the determined Vietnamese defence.