Thailand reaffirmed their status as the number one team in South East Asia by lifting the Tiger Cup for the second time in three tournaments with an impressive 4-1 win over Indonesia.

A first half hat-trick by Worrawoot Srimaka gave Peter Withe’s team victory and Thailand their sixth regional title in the last seven years after four SEA Games gold medals and the Tiger Cup in Singapore in 1996.

Thanongsak Pajakkat added a fourth in the 66th minute to repeat the scoreline between the two teams during the group stages in Chiangmai, a result that saw Indonesian coach Nandar Iskandar sent home ‘to rest’.

But the Thais proved the difference between the teams goes much deeper than the coaching prowess of the respective men on the team benches with a display that showed just how far they are ahead of the rest of the region.

Three goals in 32 minutes for former Thai Farmers Bank striker Worrawoot sealed the game for Thailand by half-time.

The 28-year-old claimed his first after just 14 minutes when he latched on to a cross from deep on the left by Thanongsak Pajakkat, beating the Indonesian defence to the ball to thunder his header into the back of the net.

The goal came as no surprise after the hosts had dominated the opening encounters. Both Kiatisuk Senamuang and Worrawoot had gone close with free kicks on the edge of the penalty area in the first three minutes of the game while Worrawoot’s shot a minute later was straight at Indonesian goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko.

By the 18th minute, Thailand and Worrawoot had doubled their tally, the big striker capitalising on hesitation by Indonesian defender Nur Alim to meet Tawan Sripan’s lofted through ball before lashing the ball home, giving Kartiko little chance.

But less than a minute later the Indonesians had pulled themselves back into the game from a well-worked set piece on the edge of Thailand’s penalty area.

Aji Santoso, surprisingly left out of the starting line-up but brought on by coach Danandjaya after just 17 minutes, rolled the ball to Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, who stopped it for Uston Nawawi to curl around the Thai defensive wall and beyond Kittisak Rwanga in the home goal.

It was not to last, however. Tawan Sripan went close in the 24th minute, blasting over the bar after good work by Tananchai Boriban down the right side before Woorawoot claimed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute.

After pulling a great save out of Kartiko, the Terro Sasana man struck from the resultant corner, the ball delivered with precision by Tawan, allowing Worrawoot to head in with ease.

Still the Thais went forward and, two minutes from the break, Tawan strode through the midfield before hammering a right foot drive that beat Kartiko but not the goalkeeper’s left upright, the ball rebounding to safety.

Indonesia lacked the tools to trouble Thais and the result was put beyond doubt when Thanonsak hit the fourth, turning on the edge of the area in the 66th minute before beating Kartiko with a low shot.

And any hopes Danandjaya’s side had of regaining any pride disappeared when Djet Donald Laala was sent off after his tackle left substitute Sakesan Pituratana sprawling on the ground with 24 minutes still on the clock.

source: www.asian-football.com