Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Bangkok: Teerasil Dangda scored a hat-trick as Thailand eased to a 4-0 victory over Myanmar on Tuesday to seal their place in the semi-finals of the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup with a game to spare.
Buoyed by a passionate home crowd at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium, the three-time ASEAN champions took a 20th minute lead through the first of Teerasil's treble.
Substitute Apipoo Suntornpanavej doubled Thailand's advantage in the 57th minute when his close-range header rebounded into the back of the net after being pushed onto the underside of the crossbar by Thiha Si Thu before the Myanmar keeper was beaten two more times in the last ten minutes of the second half.
Teersail hit the Thais' third in the 82nd minute before completing his hat-trick and sealing the 4-0 win with a minute left on the clock to cap a fine individual performance from the Muangthong United striker that drew the plaudits from Thailand coach Winfried Schafer.
"Teerasil is one of the best players in Asia - he is fantastic," said the German. "He is very clever and a good finisher - everybody likes him.
"I am very, very happy with the way we played tonight. The players showed great mental strength, spirit and a lot of fight. We played a tremendous match."
Thailand are in AFC Asian Cup qualifying Group B and will begin their campaign to reach Australia 2015 when they host Kuwait on February 6.