Published on Feb 4, 2002

[SOCCER] Favourites Thailand overwhelmed arch-rivals Burma 4-0 yesterday to clinch the inaugural AFF U-20 Youth Championship title at the Thai-Japan Youth Welfare Stadium.

However, it was a nightmare day for English Division One's Crystal Palace youth player Teerathep Winothai, who was given his marching orders by the referee after being given a second yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Thailand, who were aiming to make amends for their 1-1 draw against Burma in the first round, got off to a flying start taking the lead after only five minutes. The lanky Panai Kongpraphun connected with a cross from Kittipol Papu-nga, lobbing the ball over Burma's goalie Hein Zay Yar Kyaw to open Thailand's account.

Geed on by a capacity crowd of 5,000, Thailand increased their lead in the 24th minute through Kittipol, who blasted in a perfect pass from Ekaphun Inthasen from close range.

Against the run of play, Burma had only one good chance in the 27th minute when Zaw Htaik fired a 30-yarder, which went wide.

Thailand's third goal came in the last minute before half time after a period of sustained attacks as Satid Mukkratok's free kick just outside the penalty area went over the wall and ricocheted in off the leg of luckless defender Yan Paing who was standing behind the wall.

After the interval, Anucha Kitpongsri, winner of the recent GSM Thai League Rising Star award, rounded the Burmese goalie in the 56th minute for Thailand's fourth.

Four minutes later, Panai was replaced by teen prodigy Teerathep, who lasted only 15 minutes after being yellow-carded twice in ten minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

A mass brawl almost erupted in the 77th minute when a Thai player was blatantly elbowed by a furious Burmese during a tussle for the ball. However, calm was restored a few minutes later and the game resumed. Ekaphun, who ended as the tournament's highest scorer with six goals, was voted Most Valuable Player.

In the match for third place, Laos proved that their victory over Vietnam in the first round was no fluke as they beat them again 2-1.

Baoboupha Syviray and Cholaka Sounphonphady scored two quick goals in the 4th and 8th minutes, respectively, before Phan Nhu Thuat pulled one back for Vietnam in the 56th minute.

Although satisfied with the team's sporting performance, Thai coach Chanvit Polchivin said he was unhappy with the fact that the boys were unable to control their tempers. He said they should have kept cool and calm as they were already four goals ahead.

Suphramphun Jirakwanchay

THE NATION