THAILAND 1:2 COSTA RICA

TIGER 5's TOURNAMENT SINGAPORE 28/11/2001 17:00 TST.

Report by: ESPN STAR SPORT

Costa Rica 2 - 1 Thailand (halftime: 0-1)

Scorers: Polsak (THA) (20'), Sibaja (CRC) (32'), Montoya (CRC) 36'
By Steve Harris
Though Thailand crashed out of last year's Futsal World Championship with three consecutive losses, Thai hopes - in fact, hopes for all non-Iranian Asian countries - were raised by Japan's dramatic opening-day victory over Australia. At the '99 Tiger 5s, an Asian victory seemed impossible at a tournament where the only goal recorded by any of the Asian sides was Rudy Khairon's successful penalty kick. On day #2 of the '01 Tiger 5s, something in the air was telling Thailand -- individually strong but tactically very naïve -- that it might have a crack at the gritty Ticos, who, despite the flash and fire of newcomer Yanan Montoya, were on the losing end of a 6-4 goal-fest with Holland yesterday.

And though many of us went into this game looking for more artistry and cunning by Guatemala veteran Chaves and brilliant newcomer Montoya, by the time halftime came, we were talking about names such as Phungphook, Khongkaew, and Polsak. Maybe starting goalkeeper Chuenta's rainbow-hued topknot should have given it away, but this Thailand team showed Costa Rica and the rest of us that it wants people to take notice.

Thai attempts on the Ticos' goal started alarmingly early and continued throughout the first half with stunning consistency. Clearly Costa Rica a had underestimated the Southeast Asians and were now watching in stupefied silence as through-ball after through-ball reached the tiny but tricky Phungphook on top and allowed teammates to fill the upper corners, thus creating a piercing trident that kept the Ticos pinned back.

The deadly combination of Thai speed, skill, and lust for attack drew fouls from Costa Rica at a fast rate. When Chaves felt compelled to hold his challenger back in the 12th minute, Costa Rica accrued its fifth infraction and was now in foul trouble. To add to their worries, the Ticos were shaken and allowed their passing to go downhill fast. There were probably more unforced turnovers by the Central Americans in the first half of this contest than in the entire Holland.

And perhaps that's what the Costa Ricans missed today: the Netherlands pressed hard incessantly, forcing the Ticos to raise their game, whereas Thailand's somewhat more leisurely pace seemed to make Montoya & Co. lazy. Montoya, in fact, hid in the fact, opting to distribute rather than create attacks.

Meanwhile, Chuenta, he of the multi-colored coiffure, really lit up the crowd late in the first half when he dramatically saved a shot on the roll, came to his feet, and bolted into attack. His diagonal was unfortunately shot wide, but the crowd exploded with joy.

After innumerable chances squandered, the enterprising Thais hit pay-dirt in the final minute of the first half, when captain Yuttana Polsak sent a sizzling shot past Costa Rica GK Alfaro on a three-on-two Thai counterattack. Thailand went into halftime with a one-goal lead.

If ever the well-worn adage about it being a game of two halves ever applied, it was today, though. Costa Rica took possession of the second half through a belated tactical change. In the back, the reliable Alpizar and Juarez alternated between shutting down the Thai attack and making daring runs forward; they also forced up and to the sides Montoya, Costa Rica's most effective attacker, a player who works best from the flanks and at top. Also effectively deployed was the towering Chaves, a composed, versatile futsaler who can keep possession in the middle while also sandwiching opposing attackers between himself and his defenders. Thai helped the Costa Rican effort by eschewing their midfield build-up in the second quarter in favor of long throws by 'keeper Chuenta.

The combination of enterprising runs from the Costa Rican back line, possession and distribution by Chaves in the middle, and nonstop shooting by Montoya kept the Thais hogtied throughout the first ten minutes. Like the first-half Thais, the Ticos were creators of abundant opportunities and capable of everything but putting the ball in the net.

Good fortune rained down on the Central Americans in the 32nd minute, when Sibaja, who missed yesterday's Dutch match, took an off-balance swing at a ball that came his way in open space deep in Thai territory. He failed to strike it true, and saw it hit off of key Thai defender Tong-In and past helpless goalie Chuenta.

More good luck happened four minutes later, this time to Montoya. The shooting ace who must have gotten off a dozen shots in this half alone, scored when he pursued an overly long through-ball that ricocheted off of him when cleared by Chuenta.

The Ticos went into defensive mode and held Thailand to the 2-1 difference until the final buzzer, achieving a victory without committing a single foul in the second half, a rare achievement.