Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Thailand are set up a crunch game against DPR Korea after beating the Philippines 5-1 in AFC U-23 Championship 2016 qualifying at the Rajamangala Stadium on Sunday.
The Thais led 1-0 at the break before adding four more goals including two by substitutes after the interval in the Group J game.
Kasidech Wattayawong scored Thailand’s opening goal on 12 minutes before the game went into the break. Two minutes after game restarted Pakorn Panrmpak converted a penalty to double the lead before substitute Chenrop Samphaodi registered the Thais’ third on 56 minutes.
Midfielder Chaowat Veerachat then took the tally to four when he bulged the Filipinos’ net on 62 minutes before another substitute, Inpinit Pinyo, scored number five on 67 minutes. Paolo Salenga managed to register the Filipinos’ consolation goal a minute before full time.
Thailand now sit second below table toppers DPR Korea with the Koreans having defeated Cambodia 4-1 in an earlier game, and both teams will meet Tuesday to determine the group winners who are gauranteed qualification to the tournament proper.
Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams from all groups will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship 2016, with January’s 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio.
Photo: FAT