THAILAND 0:1 DPR. KOREA
King's Cup 2002 Tournament
14/02/2002 16:00 TST. SUPRACHALASAI STADIUM, BANGKOK
The two teams will meet again in the final tomorrow and Thailand coach Peter Withe will hope his side puts on a more spirited display.
With Thailand having already qualified for the final, and North Korea only needing a draw, the match was rather a lacklustre affair.
The hosts, fielding an experimental team, never made much impression against the efficient North Korean defence.
After a scoreless and largely uneventful first half, the North Koreans put on the pressure in the second half and were rewarded with a goal in the 59th minute.
On target was Chol Ri-Kum who slotted the ball home from a tight angle when Thai goalie Phansa Meesathum would have done better to stay on his line.
Thailand fought hard for an equaliser but it wasn't to be their night.
Withe said he was quite disappointed with his team's performance. He tried several new faces but none of them made much of an impression.
However he said he was confident his full squad will beat North Korea in the final tomorrow.
