Azkals drop Suzuki Cup opener to Thailand as coach Weiss ejected

(Updated 12:15am) Thailand put on a masterclass against the Philippines at the Rajamangala Stadium in Thailand, as Datsakorn Thonglao, Teerasil Dangda, and their teammates from Muangthong United tore through the Azkals’ backline for a 2-1 win in both sides' Suzuki Cup openers, Saturday.??

Two late goals in the first half from Jakkapan Pornsai and Anucha Kitpongsri put the War Elephants in control at the break, but after halftime the Azkals came back into the match. Patrick Reichelt proved to be an effective substitute, flying down the right wing to provide the assist for Paul Mulders, who buried the chance running into space for the sole PHL goal.??

Coach Michael Weiss was then sent to the stands by the referee for throwing the ball at the second goalscorer and the War Elepahants' experience showed, as they wound down the clock to record the three points. It was truly a game of two halves as the Thais were imperious in the first but the Azkals almost snatched a positive result in the second.?


First half

The Philippines faced a couple of setbacks before the game, with Denis Wolf’s ankle injury ruling him out, while Demit Omphroy got the flu. Angel Guirado started in place of Wolf, just behind Phil Younghusband, while James Younghusband started in place of Omphroy, for the first start for both Younghusband brothers since they were dropped from the Peace Cup roster.??

With the stadium not quite a quarter full, the crowd still got to work and the Azkals got their first taste of how passionate Thai fans can be in the first minute. James Younghusband played a beautiful cross-field ball to Chieffy Caligdong, and he won a corner despite stumbling. The volume of the boos filled the stadium, trying to psych out the Azkals as the corner was taken.??

The Azkals then got their first taste of the Thai duo of Datsakorn Thonglao and Teerasil Dangda in the third minute, as Thonglao cut through the Azkals backline with a single pass, to allow Dangda to race onto the ball. Sacapano just got there first but it was a warning for the Azkals of how easily a single through ball can open them up, and it was one they didn’t heed.??

Thonglao continued to dominate the midfield, finding his Muangthong United teammates in Dangda and right winger Jakkapan Pornsai time and time again. Exploiting the space between defensive midfielders Jerry Lucena and Paul Mulders and attacking midfielder Angel Guirado, Thailand owned the middle of the park.??

With short, incisive passes, their pace bewitched the Azkals’ defense, as Thonglao’s first effort looked goalwards until Ray Jonsson slid in front of the shot. Afterwards, Thongalo and Dangda exchanged passes, finding teammate Pornsai but his shot was deflected for a corner in the 38th minute.??

As Thailand regained possession, Theerathon Bunmathan played a neat one-two and as he reached the byline he cut the ball across goal. Both Rob Gier and Piyapol Bantao couldn’t quite reach the ball but it found Pornsai unmarked at the edge of the six yard box and he buried the chance past the despairing goalkeeper.??

Despite having most men behind the ball, the Azkals were helpless to the speed and preciseness of the passing, and just two minutes later Thailand broke through again. Anucha Kitpongsri played the ball forward and with one touch passing Teerasil Dangda found Kitpongsri, who had continued his run and was through on goal. He rounded Sacapano easily and fired the ball into the empty net to double Thailand’s lead.


Second half

Phil Younghusband was brought off at halftime for Marwin Angeles as the Azkals looked to get back into the game. Angeles took over in center midfield with Paul Mulders pushing up to the attacking midfield role and Angel Guirado moving up front.??

The changes seemed to work as the Azkals played much better and were far more competitive in the second half.

??Despite the changes, Thailand threatened again first, as Thonglao found Pornsai out wide and he crossed into the box. The ball was flicked on and Kitpongsri got on the end of it, but couldn’t find the back of the net from six yards out.??

Pichitphong Choechiu was booked for bringing down Mulders and Dennis Cagara took the free-kick, but James Younghusband headed wide from the cross. It was the last action James Younghusband saw as he was replaced by Patrick Reichelt in the 61st minute.
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Teerasil Dangda showed the dark side of his game in the 65th minute, though, elbowing Juani Guirado in the face as the two challenged for the ball. The incident has apparently chipped Guirado’s tooth, as Weiss said in the press conference afterwards, and the coach continued to berate the referee’s decision to award him only a yellow card not a red.??

Minutes later Adul Lahsoh held onto Reichelt’s shirt as the Global winger burst down the right and earned himself a booking too.

Thailand continued their control, and Thonglao fed Theerathon Bunmathan on the left. He crossed in but Teerasil Dangda, bright all day, couldn’t get his goal as he headed over. Thonglao was brought down soon after and stretchered off, substituted for Sumanya Purisay, and that will be Thailand’s only concern for this game as their hopes to win the Suzuki Cup may well rest on his shoulders – the playmaker was that good.

??Purisay could have had an instant impact off the bench as Dangda fed the ball into the substitute and he was through on goal. Dangda raced to catch up and offer an option but Purisay opted to go alone and drove into the side netting with Sacapano staying on his line. It could have wrapped up the game but the Azkals capitalized on the error and scored next.

??As the Azkals played their best move of the game, they passed the ball on the ground – avoiding the long balls they relied on previously – and played out wide to Patrick Reichelt. Composed, he found Paul Mulders in the center, who was running in on goal, and buried the chance to put the Philippines back in contention.??

However, that chance wilted soon after, as the referee sent off coach Michael Weiss in the 81st minute. With Kitpongsri on the floor, wasting a few more minutes, Weiss threw the ball back into play and it hit Thailand’s second goalscorer while he was on the ground. The referee sent Weiss to the stands for the action, where he will also be for their second game, versus Vietnam.??

Thailand’s experience showed for the remainder of the game as they wasted the time effectively, making their final two substitutions and playing the ball around the corners of the Azkals to win cheap throw-ins and free-kicks. As the final whistle blew the Thai crowd made themselves heard one last time as their War Elephants took their chances to lead Group A and get the first win of the Suzuki Cup.

Post-game

After the game Coach Weiss bemoaned the referee’s decisions in the game. Calling him “a bit too pro-Thai,” it was clear that Weiss thought a previous Thai player should have been sent off for an elbow and criticized other decisions in the game.??

Overall, though, he admitted that “the referee was not the reason we lost” and that the team “couldn’t keep concentration... and within three or four minutes the game was almost over,” referring to the few minutes in which Thailand scored both their games.??

The loss leaves the Philippines at the bottom of the group with no points, Thailand leading with three. Myanmar and Vietnam both have a point each after their 1-1 draw earlier in the evening. With the Philippines up against Vietnam next, a win would send them above Vietnam and put them in prime position to qualify from the group.

??However another loss would see the Philippines be the first team to be knocked out of the competition. Myanmar meanwhile will be up against Thailand in a very tough game for them. Both of the games will be played on November 27 at the Rajamangala Stadium. - AMD/ELR, GMA News