Jakarta: Thailand secured third place at the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup™ 2025 as goals by Phanthamit Prapanth, Siraphop Wandee and Seksan Ratree sealed a 3-1 win over the Philippines at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Monday.
Phanthamit gave the Thais the lead in the 3rd/4th place match when he diverted in a low cross by Sittha Boonlha after 29 minutes and Siraphop added a second with a left-footed drive in the 74th minute.
Otu Bisong Banatao pulled one back with a looping header five minutes later but the Philippines striker then saw another header come back off the post with substitute Seksan adding Thailand’s third on an ensuing counter-attack to seal the win.
Beaten in a penalty shoot-out by hosts Indonesia in the semi-finals, Thailand had the better of the chances in the opening half of the third-place encounter. They went close to an opening goal after 20 minutes when Siraphop sent a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the right post.
They would take the lead just before the half-hour after some clever play from Sittha. The stand-in Thai captain received a pass from Yotsakorn Burapha on the right flank and advanced into the Philippines box, shaping to shoot before sending a hard low cross towards the six-yard box for Phanthamit to stab the ball home.
Siraphop should have added a second for the Thais in the 35th minute after latching on to a fine through ball by Yotsakorn, but Philippines goalkeeper Nico Guimarães came up big in the one-on-one situation to block the effort and keep his side in the game.
The Philippines made a bright start to the second half and they nearly found an equaliser in the 50th minute when Jian Caraig broke into Thai box but saw his close-range effort blocked by defender Pichitchai Sienkrathok.
The Thais re-established control as the second half developed and Guimarães was called into action again to turn aside a firm header by Pattarapon Suksakit.
Their second goal would arrive with 16 minutes left when Yotsakorn gathered a loose ball in the Philippines box and laid it off to his right for Siraphop to drive a firm effort into the far corner of the net.
The Philippines narrowed the deficit in the 79th minute after a lofted pass by Gavin Muens found an unmarked Banatao who sent a looping header past goalkeeper Sorawat Phosaman into the far corner of the net.
Garrath McPherson’s side pressed for the equaliser and they nearly got it when Banatao crashed a header onto the Thai woodwork with five minutes left.
The Thais broke forward quickly on the counter-attack and with the Philippines defenders struggling to get back, Chaiyaphon Otton laid the ball off for Seksan, who had come on as a substitute less than a minute earlier, to fire in off the left upright.
Defending champions Vietnam will meet hosts Indonesia in the final of the Mandiri Cup™ 2025 on Tuesday.
Mandiri Player of the Match - Siraphop Wandee (#12), Thailand
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