Bangkok: Thailand have booked their place in the final of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024, after overturning a first-leg deficit with a 3-1 extra-time win over the Philippines at Rajamangala Stadium on Monday.
War Elephants skipper Peeradol Chamrasamee opened the scoring on 37 minutes to bring the tie level before Patrik Gustavsson made it 2-0 10 minutes into the second half.
But seven minutes from time the Philippines pulled a goal back through Bjorn Kristensen to send the game to extra time.
Thailand eventually found the winner, though, with a Suphanat Mueanta header ensuring that his team were headed to the final.
The noise inside the stadium was deafening when Thailand picked up possession in and around the box, as was heard when the ball fell to Seksan Ratree around six yards out in the fourth minute but the Buriram United midfielder couldn't get his footing right.
Another half-chance came on nine minutes but, again, composure evaded Thailand at the vital moment. The first half soon became a game of chess of sorts with Thailand trying to find a way around the Philippines who’d remained resolute in their defensive structure.
In the 15th minute, a loose pass from the Thailand goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai into Chalermsak Aukkee was pounced upon by Zico Bailey who then slipped in Javier Gayoso, but the shot around the keeper was cleared off the line by Pansa Hemviboon and out for a corner.
But then on 37 minutes, Thailand got the goal they so desperately craved. A ball down the right flank was just about kept in play by Seksan and fell kindly in the box for Peeradol to bury into the back of the net - 1-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.
Thailand came a lick of paint away from making it 2-0 on 41 minutes when Supachok Sarachat’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced away.
In the second half, the War Elephants gained control of proceedings early on, trumpeting a warning that they were trying to push for a second goal and flip the tie on its head.
They did exactly that when Gustavsson got the crucial goal on 53 minutes, beating the offside trap to latch onto a perfectly weighted through-ball from Weerathep Pomphun before slotting past the advancing goalkeeper.
A tense wait for a VAR check followed but replays showed that Gustavsson was onside.
A stunning save by Patiwat on 70 minutes in prevented Bailey from finding the top corner from a free-kick, but the Philippines did manage to draw the tie back level eventually.
Kristensen, who’d only been on the pitch for around 10 minutes, turned on the edge of the box before firing into the bottom corner.
But three glorious chances in the 90th minute, all in quick succession very nearly saw the Philippines take the lead, and had it not been for the Thai goalkeeper, they would have done. Patiwat first denied Amami Aguinaldo then Gayoso twice with a series of point-blank saves.
After 11 minutes of added time, the tie went into extra time. The first half of extra time yielded no goals, but it wasn't for the want of trying with both teams coming close.
In the second, there was a sense of urgency and Supachok wasted no time in testing the goalkeeper. The resulting corner produced a shot from Jonathan Khemdee but it went over.
A Benjamin Davis chance flashed across goal shortly after; Thailand clearly didn’t want penalties.
And in the 115th minute, Thailand got the goal that ensured the game was won before spot-kicks. Suphanat, on as a substitute, powered home a header from a sumptuous cross by fellow substitute Worachit Kanitsribumphen.
A 3-1 win on the night, 4-3 on aggregate, booked Thailand their place in the final. The first leg will see Thailand travel to Viet Tri on Thursday, 2 January before the second leg in Bangkok on Sunday, 5 January.
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