Thailand crush Myanmar before AFF Cup 2022
* Scores: Teerasil Dangda pen 12' & 58', Bordin Phala 29', own own goal by Nanda Kyaw 45', Sarach Yooyen 45'+2, Nyein Chan owns 75'.
After two weeks of training, today, Thailand entered the friendly stage to test personnel - tactics with a friendly match with Myanmar - a team in a different group at the AFF Cup 2022. Despite the absence of superstar Chanathip Songkrasin, Midfielder Phittiwat in this first rehearsal, coach Mano Polking's team still showed superior strength to neighboring opponents.
Polking tested a 4-2-2-2 formation and, at the same time, pushed Theerathon Bunmathan from left-back to the central midfield. 23-year-old midfielder Ekanit Panya was arranged to replace the role of leading Chanathip's play. Better technical quality helps Thailand to relax, control the ball 64%, have 587 passes and 17 shots compared to 5 of Myanmar.
After only 12 minutes of rolling the ball, Thailand opened the scoring from the 11m mark thanks to veteran striker Teerasil Dangda. After that, Dangda dribbled in the middle, passing the ball to Ekanit Panya to shoot diagonally in the 29th minute. Goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo saved to the right position Bordin Phala had chosen and easily cushioned the ball into an empty net.
Thailand scored two consecutive goals in the 45th minute and the third minute of compensation. Sasalak Haiprakhon dropped the ball behind the Myanmar defense in time, right-back Suphanan Bureerat ran up, and in an effort to retreat to save defender Nanda Kyaw's own goal. Three minutes later, Thailand was awarded a direct free kick from about 25m, Theerathon crossed the corner to open the corner for Sarach Yooyen to shoot from far left to score the fourth goal.
In the second half, Polking gradually launched the substitutes into the game, but Thailand still easily got more goals in the 58th minute thanks to Dangda, and then in the 75th minute when Nyein Chan became the second Myanmar player to kick an own goal. In the end, Thailand beat Myanmar 6-0.
After the tests in this match, Thailand will play one more friendly match - against Taiwan on the evening of December 14 at Thammasat Stadium, before entering the journey to defend the AFF Cup championship. Meanwhile, coach Antoine Hey and Myanmar players only have to practice waiting for the opening match against Malaysia on December 21.
Thailand also took advantage of this friendly round to focus on the U23 team. Before the Thailand - Myanmar match, Thailand U23 faced the Laos national team and lost 0-1 after the only goal in the 29th minute of striker Billy Ketkeophomphone - a player who had time to play in Ligue 1, France. The two teams will rematch on December 14.
