FIFA ASEAN Cup
Thailand faced little trouble as they defeated Pakistan 4-0 while Vietnam’s tie was a more tense affair with the reigning ASEAN champions emerging 1-0 winners against the Philippines.
Pakistan 0-4 Thailand
It took Thailand a while to get going but they eventually broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark as a Jude Soonsup-Bell header was parried into the path of Teerasak Poeiphimai, who swept home from close range.
Soonsup-Bell then went from provider to finisher in the 41st minute as he met a Seksan Ratree cross to send Thailand into the break with a comfortable advantage.
Thailand lost Soonsup-Bell to injury early in the second period, with the player who came on in his place, Supachai Chaided, making an immediate impact as he teed up Teerasak for a shot that spun into the net in the 64th minute off the leg of Pakistan defender Haris Zeb.
Teerasak poked home a late fourth with six minutes of regulation time remaining to complete a commanding win for a Thailand side ahead of their headline showdown against Vietnam on Tuesday.
Vietnam 1-0 Philippines
With the Philippines having failed to defeat Vietnam for the past 12 years, they entered as clear underdogs in the pair’s Group B opener.
Randy Schneider came close to handing them a 23rd minute lead though, his long-range effort crashing off the bar.
Barely two minutes later they were made to pay for that miss as Nguyen Dinh Bac strode forward to meet a Williams Minh Hoang cross and send Vietnam into the break ahead.
The Philippines were far from overawed and only a fine save from Le Giang Patrik prevented Jarvey Gayoso from pulling them level shortly after the restart.
Vietnam then suffered a blow as captain Nguyen Xuan Son was forced off with a hamstring injury just after the hour mark, before the Philippines thought they had struck a late leveller but after a VAR review, Kenji Nishioka’s strike was chalked off as Vietnam hung on to collect maximum points.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
Related News
Item 1 of 5