Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: A strong second-half performance saw Thailand defeat Australia 6-1 on Wednesday to book their place in in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship and qualify for the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will take place in Colombia this September.
Goals from Jirawat Sornwichian and Suphawut Thueanklang put Thailand in a strong position early on before Australia captain Gregory Giovenali responded in the final moments of the first half to reduce the deficit at half-time.
But after Jetsada and Wiwat Thaijaruen scored within five minutes of each other midway through the second half, Suphawut and Jirawat sealed the win as Thailand took their place in the final four of the continental competition and ensured participation in the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the fifth time in a row.
Both sides made a nervy start to the match with frequent turnovers and misplaced passes, and it was from one of those moments that Thailand took the lead. Australia conceded possession midway inside their half and Thailand pounced as Apiwat Chaemcharoen (pictured) and Suphawut exchanged passes before Jirawat slotted home from the left of the goal with just under five minutes played.
And four minutes later Thailand doubled their lead following another mistake from Australia as Apiwat’s corner, conceded after a misplaced header, found an unmarked Suphawut who drove his shot low into the goal with 10 minutes of the first half remaining.
But after goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou made a sharp save low to his right to deny Jirawat and both Grant Lynch and Dean Lockhart had chances for the Futsalroos, Australia struck with barley 10 seconds remaining in the first half as Giovenali’s cheeky flick found its way past Kanison Phoopun.
The second half began in a similar fashion to the first as neither side managed to carve out any clear chances over the first five minutes.
But finally Thailand struck again to extend their lead seven minutes into the second half as a corner from Nattavut Madyalan found Jetsada with both space and time to drag his foot over the ball and launch an unstoppable effort past Konstantinou.
Jetsada then had a golden chance to kill off the game moments later only to see his well-struck effort cannon off the crossbar.
But with eight minutes remaining Wiwat made no mistake as he waltzed past a couple of attempted challenges before guiding a low shot into the right of the net.
And as a desperate Australia launched a series of powerplays to try and find a way back into the match, Thailand struck twice late on to seal the ultimately comfortable win.
Firstly, Suphawut displayed power and pace to brush past the Australia defence and rifle home a fifth with less than two minutes remaining before Jirawat grabbed a spectacular sixth from deep within his own half with no goalkeeper at home to send a delirious bench into wild celebrations.
Photo: AFC