SEA games Football:Thailand hands a 4-0 drubbing to Cambodia

Cambodia line up against Thailand before the 4-0 drubbing

Cambodia were handed a Comprehensive 4-0 drubbing by Thailand who bounced back from their mid-week defeat to Malaysia to give themselves a life line of progressing from the " Group of Death in a Group A match that was played in front of a sparse crowd at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Friday evening.

The Thais, determined to regain the crown they lost two years ago in Laos, were defeated 2-1 by Malaysia in their opening game in the group on Wednesday. Which meant that they have to beat Cambodia this evening to put their campaign back on track considering that they still have matches against hosts Indonesia and Singapore coming up and they did just that.

The Cambodians on the other hand had gone into the game with the intention of bettering their last performance against Singapore where after taking the lead, they fell to a 2-1 loss to the Young Lions.

On this occasion, it was to be the Thais who had the lion’s share of the possession and also the attacking flair led by striker and also captain Ronnachai Rangsiyo, who tested Cambodian keeper Um Vichet in the 13th minute with a stiff grounder.

And five minutes later, the Thais put their noses in front – coming in from the right, Natarid Thammroddodpon cut into the box before swizzling past three Cambodian defenders for a shot to beat Um Vichet. Thailand pressed on after that and Natarid again came close but Cambodia remained resilient to deny them.

Thailand's Natarid Thammroddodpon opens score in the 19th minute with a low drive

In the 33rd minute, Ronachai picked up a pass from the middle of the park but after dribbling into the box, his shot was blocked by Um Vichet who is making his debut following injury to first choice Sou Yaty. The score stood at 1-0 to the Thais at the interval.

Thailand started the second half the way they ended the first the better side with two quick attempts from Nattarid coming off the woodwork. In the 67th minute, Cambodia replied with a superb header from substitute Sok Pheng off a cross from Souk Rithy to force Thai keeper Ukrit Wongmeena into an outstretched save.

In the 72nd minute, Thailand finally went in front again off Attapong Nooprom before substitute Kroekrit Thawikan then put the icing on the cake by scoring the third goal with a rebounder three minutes later.

The Thais then rounded off the night with the fourth goal on 82 minute with Ronnochai providing the assist as Attapong then giving the finishing touch to complete an eventful evening for the ASEAN giant.

Cambodia will now meet Malaysia in the last match on Sunday 13th before boarding their flight back to Phnom penh on the 14th.

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