FOOTBALL – Thailand booked their place in the Asean Championship semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Myanmar in Bangkok yesterday to seal top spot in Group B as Malaysia also advanced to the last four with a 1-0 win over the Philippines.
Penalties in the 11th and 52nd minutes from Worachit Kanitsribumphen and Jehhanafee Mamah respectively maintained Thailand’s perfect record in the group phase and set up a semi-final meeting with four-times champions Singapore.
Malaysia took second place in the standings, three points behind the Thais, as a result of Gunalan Pavithran’s 16th minute header in Kuala Lumpur.
The win moved the Malaysians onto nine points from four matches, three ahead of Myanmar, who were eliminated.
Malaysia will face defending champions Vietnam in their semi-final, with the first leg in Kuala Lumpur next Sunday and the return three days later in Hanoi.
Thailand, winners of the title a record seven times, travel to Singapore for the first leg of their semi next Saturday before hosting Gavin Lee’s side in Bangkok on August 18.
The final will be played on a home-and-away basis, with the first leg on August 22 and the return on August 26.