THAILAND 9:0 PHILIPPINES

30 July 1999 16:00 TST.  SEA GAMES 1999, Brunei

Report by: AFC NET

Thailand began their defence of the SEA Games football title in sparkling style yesterday when they crushed the Philippines 9-0 in the opening match of the tournament in Brunei.

Leading the rout was Thailand's star centre-forward Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang who slammed in four goals as the Thai side completely outclassed a poor Philippine team.

Although the opposition was weak, Thailand's English coach Peter Withe could be well satisfied at his team's positive approach in their opening match.

However, they will find Burma and Vietnam, who are also in their group, much stiffer opposition than the Philippine team which was lucky to keep the scoring down to single figures.

Vietnam sounded out their own warning when they also hammered Laos 9-0 in the other group match played yesterday.

Cheered on by 10,000 Thai spectators working in Brunei, it took the Thai side only six minutes to open their account when Anurak Srikerd stormed through the leaky Filipino defence to slam the ball in the back of the net.

Thailand continued to totally dominate play, but for nearly half an hour they were thwarted by desperate defending. They also fell into the offside trap too often, being caught eight times in the first half.

However in 34th minute Surachai Jirasirichote was tripped in the penalty area and Kiatisak made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Four minutes later Kiatisak collected a second goal and his easiest of the match when he headed in from close range after the Philippine keeper failed to cut out a cross.

The teams went in at the interval with Thailand leading 3-0.

Withe's half-time pep talk certainly seemed to work as Thailand came storming out in the second half, scoring two goals in the opening two minutes. Both Surachai and Seksan Piturat, with a great individual effort, found the back of the net with the Philippine team in total disarray.

Kiatisak notched his hat-trick in the 64th minute after beating the offside trap and the score remained 6-0 until five minutes before the end when Thailand finished with a flourish.

In the 85th minute Choktawee Promrat made it 7-0 and in the 89th substitute Voravudh Srimaka rose above the Filipino defence to score from a fine header.

Kiatisak completed proceedings just before the final whistle with another header to notch his fourth goal of the match and make the final scoreline 9-0.

After the match Withe said he was pleased with his team's positive attitude but noted they would face much tougher opponents in Vietnam and Burma.

There was some concern over Kiatisak who picked up a rib injury, but it was not thought to be serious.