SINGAPORE 0:5 THAILAND

13 AUG. 2001 18:00 NATIONAL STADIUM SINGAPORE

Report by: Michael Church, FootballAsia.com

Thailand warmed up for their crucial World Cup qualifying clash with Iraq this weekend with a comprehensive 5-0 drubbing of South East Asian neighbours Singapore.

The Thais fly off to Baghdad from Singapore in the early hours of Wednesday morning with added confidence after Kiatisuk Senamuang and Sakesan Pituratana both scored twice to give Peter Withe's team an impressive victory. Sutee Suksomkit scored Thailand's fifth with the last kick of the game.

Kiatisuk's pace was enough to unnerve the Singapore defence, the Armed Forces striker opening the scoring after 25 minutes when he capitalised on a mistake by Rudy Khairon.

Two minutes before the break Sakesan made it two after Kiatisuk knocked the ball across goal for the Sinthana forward to head home.

Thailand had to wait until the 70th minute for their third, Kiatisuk swooping again with a header following Nirut Surasiang's cross and four minutes later they increased their lead further when Sakesan scored with another header, this time from a cross by Therdsak Chaiman.

Substitute Sutee gave the mainly Thai crowd of 7,500 something to cheer with the last kick of the game when his low, curling effort beat goalkeeper Rezal Hassan to give the visitors a deserved five-goal victory.