ASEAN Championship
Holders Vietnam and Thailand are on course to reach yet another decider after picking up first leg victories against Malaysia (2-0) and Singapore (3-1) respectively.
Thailand v Singapore
Venue: Rajamangala Stadium (Bangkok)
Kick-off: Tuesday, 20:00 (UTC+7)
Despite taking a healthy 3-1 lead from the first leg, Anthony Hudson was far from happy with the performance with the Thailand head coach demanding improvements.
A brace from Teerasak Poeiphimai and another from Seksan Ratree told a different narrative from what Hudson saw in the game and he knows Thailand cannot afford to ease up if they are to remain in the title hunt.
“We're very clear that it's only half-time and we need to go back to Bangkok and make sure we deliver an even bigger performance than tonight,” said Hudson.
“When you get to the semi-finals,they are about winning. I think this is probably one of the first times really that we weren't able to control and dominate the ball. A lot of our attacks and goals came from counter-attacks, which wasn't really what we are.”
Venue: Rajamangala Stadium (Bangkok)
Kick-off: Tuesday, 20:00 (UTC+7)
Despite taking a healthy 3-1 lead from the first leg, Anthony Hudson was far from happy with the performance with the Thailand head coach demanding improvements.
A brace from Teerasak Poeiphimai and another from Seksan Ratree told a different narrative from what Hudson saw in the game and he knows Thailand cannot afford to ease up if they are to remain in the title hunt.
“We're very clear that it's only half-time and we need to go back to Bangkok and make sure we deliver an even bigger performance than tonight,” said Hudson.
“When you get to the semi-finals,they are about winning. I think this is probably one of the first times really that we weren't able to control and dominate the ball. A lot of our attacks and goals came from counter-attacks, which wasn't really what we are.”
As for Gavin Lee, the Singapore head coach is hopeful that mistakes can be cut out after conceding three goals at home in a single game after having gone through the group stage with only conceding twice.
“Thailand always have quality,” said Lee. “But I think we will hold our hands up and say we put ourselves through quite a few unnecessarily difficult moments and kind of made it easy for them. And then when you have got players of that quality they definitely punish you.”
“Thailand always have quality,” said Lee. “But I think we will hold our hands up and say we put ourselves through quite a few unnecessarily difficult moments and kind of made it easy for them. And then when you have got players of that quality they definitely punish you.”
Vietnam v Malaysia
Venue: My Dinh National Stadium (Hanoi)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 20:00 (UTC+7)
In a similar vein, head coach Kim Sang-sik felt his Vietnam side flattered to deceive in their 2-0 win in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday which saw Nguyen Xuan Son and an own goal from Farish Danish giving the defending champions the advantage to bring home.
"We had a tough game away from home, but I'm happy with the win," said Kim. "We scored two goals, but overall it was difficult, especially in adapting to the pitch and there were a few tactical missteps.
“I’m still thinking about the first half when the tactical elements didn’t work as intended. From a coach’s perspective, I feel unsatisfied, not unhappy.”
Venue: My Dinh National Stadium (Hanoi)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 20:00 (UTC+7)
In a similar vein, head coach Kim Sang-sik felt his Vietnam side flattered to deceive in their 2-0 win in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday which saw Nguyen Xuan Son and an own goal from Farish Danish giving the defending champions the advantage to bring home.
"We had a tough game away from home, but I'm happy with the win," said Kim. "We scored two goals, but overall it was difficult, especially in adapting to the pitch and there were a few tactical missteps.
“I’m still thinking about the first half when the tactical elements didn’t work as intended. From a coach’s perspective, I feel unsatisfied, not unhappy.”
Malaysia head coach Tan Cheng Hoe was encouraged by the performance delivered despite the odds with the 2010 champions carving out chances but just weren’t clinical enough to find the back of the net.
"We still have another 90 minutes to go,” said Tan. “We didn't lose the war, just that we lost the battle.
"Probably you might score one goal, then you get the confidence. Of course, we know Vietnam will be very strong in their home game. I'm confident that we need to go there and challenge the situation."
Photo: Supakit/Changsuek
"We still have another 90 minutes to go,” said Tan. “We didn't lose the war, just that we lost the battle.
"Probably you might score one goal, then you get the confidence. Of course, we know Vietnam will be very strong in their home game. I'm confident that we need to go there and challenge the situation."
Photo: Supakit/Changsuek
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