Singapore lived to fight another day in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, thanks to another dramatic late goal - in their favour this time.
The man of the moment was half-time substitute Agu Casmir who fed off an Aleksandar Duric feed to volley home inside the box with the score delicately balanced at 1-1.
This was scant reward for their second-half performance that saw them bombard the Myanmarese goal at will after an abject first 45 minutes.
The less said about the opening half, the better. Making three changes from the eleven that faced the Philippines back on Thursday, none looked the part as the white shirts took to them at will.
It only took Myanmar just 12 minutes to send Singapore on the verge of elimination when a Aye San cutting pass on the right, with a Yan Paing dummy, found Muang Lwin Khin inside the box.
Muang exposed the huge gaps in the Singapore defence to smash home past Hassan Sunny.
Singapore's response after the early setback left so much to be desired, making viewers back home wonder if they were really bothered or interested to play for the country and in this tournament.
Duric and Noh Alam Shah had another ineffective first 45 minutes, with the latter proving to be very blunt and giving no problems to the Myanmar defenders.
Long balls and passes often went astray as the central midfield partnership of Fahrudin Mustafic and Isa Halim sat either too deep or too far away to either assist the attack or anchor the fragile back four.
Juma'at Jantan was again very wasteful in possession in the first half, possibly justifying his club coach's decision to bench him for prolonged parts of the 2010 domestic season.
Precious Emuejeraye, starting in place of the injured Daniel Bennett, was Precious Emuejeraye, often caught out on the turn and speed of the white shirts. His defensive partner Baihakki Khaizan was equally guilty in allowing Myanmar to run at them at will.
Shahril Ishak could do nothing as very little came his way and Ridhuan Muhammad played as though Singapore were keeping possession in the corner flag after going 5-0 up (when the reality was the Lions trailing by 1-0).
Cue perhaps one of the strongest talking-tos inside the dressing room by Singapore coach Radjoko Avramovic and the double substitution - Casmir and Khairul Amri - seemed to rejuvenate the team in the second half.
Often laying seige at Thiha Si Thu's goal, the Lions were eventually rewarded for their attacking pressure when Casmir drew the goalkeeper out and laid the simplest of finishes for Duric to tap into an empty net just after the hour.
The further introduction of Shahdan Sulaiman allowed the three-time Asean champions to play the football they are capable of. Skipper Shahril Ishak stepped up and created many opportunities that had the fast-tiring opponents in sixes and sevens inside their own area.
Still, the final decision at the other end left much to be desired as Thiha did not really have to sweat until the last 15 minutes. The defence remained very fragile, although Juma'at improved in his possession and Baihakki proving to be a better forward than defender. Gaps remained open and stronger opponents would have ensured that the temporary joy be short-lived.
It could still have been all over for Singapore had Yan's free strike inside the box not hit the woodwork five minutes after the equaliser. The ball crashed out and the red shirts continued to live to fight for another day with Agu's winning goal - and eliminate Myanmar from the cup at the group stage.
Four points in the bag after two games on paper seemed satisfactory, but the game of two halves cleared showed the very best and utmost worst of the Lions in this tournament.
The eleven that stayed on the pitch at the final whistle, barring Noh Rahman who is suspended for their final group game after picking up his second yellow card of the campaign, should start against Vietnam on Wednesday.
Notwithstanding our continuing defensive vulnerabilities and deficiencies, this was the line-up that probably finally convinced Avramovic that it should be starting eleven for the remainder of the Suzuki Cup, however far they would go.
Creative passing and attacking football from Shahril and Shahdan, and hard running and holding against a sea of defenders by strikers Duric and Casmir would give the Lions great foundations in midfield and attack, and compensate for the defensive frailities in the back four.
Whether they would be able to settle their private differences at training and inside the hotel rooms and give a stronger performance than what Singaporeans saw in the second half would provide a glimmer of hope for our regional title aspirations as the tournament progresses.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Finals Matchday 3
Group A in Jakarta, Indonesia
Thailand 0 Malaysia 0
Indonesia 6 Laos 0
Indonesia became the first team to seal a place in the semi-finals with an emphatic 6-0 thrashing of Laos in their second Group A match at Stadium Bung Karno on Saturday evening.
The result also ensured the Indonesians finish top spot in the pool, whatever the outcome in their final group match against the Thais on 7 December. That will give them home advantage in the return leg of the two-legged semis.
After Laos almost took the lead against the run of play early in the game, a penalty conversion from skipper Firman Utina started the rout. He added another, with further goals coming from Muhammad Ridwan, Irfan Bachdim, Arif Suyono and Oktovianus Maniani
Meanwhile in the earlier group game, Thailand endured another frustrating outing as Malaysia held them to a goalless draw.
The outcomes leave the remaining three teams in the group in contention to join the co-hosts into the next stage with one more round of group games to go.
Thailand 0 Malaysia 0
Indonesia 6 Laos 0
Indonesia became the first team to seal a place in the semi-finals with an emphatic 6-0 thrashing of Laos in their second Group A match at Stadium Bung Karno on Saturday evening.
The result also ensured the Indonesians finish top spot in the pool, whatever the outcome in their final group match against the Thais on 7 December. That will give them home advantage in the return leg of the two-legged semis.
After Laos almost took the lead against the run of play early in the game, a penalty conversion from skipper Firman Utina started the rout. He added another, with further goals coming from Muhammad Ridwan, Irfan Bachdim, Arif Suyono and Oktovianus Maniani
Meanwhile in the earlier group game, Thailand endured another frustrating outing as Malaysia held them to a goalless draw.
The outcomes leave the remaining three teams in the group in contention to join the co-hosts into the next stage with one more round of group games to go.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Million Dollar Incentive
According to reliable sources, Indonesia's main football governing body PSSI are set to offer one million USD for the entire team and coaching staff as reward should they win the ongoing AFF Suzuki Cup.
Thus the pressure is on Alfred Riedl and the Indonesians to deliver the goods and win the tournament for the first time.
So far, PSSI have managed to obtain more than half the reward amount, with the rest to be raised for the remainder of the campaign.
With match-fixing still the main bugbear of football in this region, it is probably hoped that the hefty prize money will "de-bribe" the players into delivering the goods so that they will not only put themselves into the history books as the first Indonesian national team to win the biennial regional affair, but also earn some financial jackpot the right way.
The PSSI have thrown the gauntlet to its national team, now will the FAT, FAS, FAM and VFF respond with similar cash incentives?
Thus the pressure is on Alfred Riedl and the Indonesians to deliver the goods and win the tournament for the first time.
So far, PSSI have managed to obtain more than half the reward amount, with the rest to be raised for the remainder of the campaign.
With match-fixing still the main bugbear of football in this region, it is probably hoped that the hefty prize money will "de-bribe" the players into delivering the goods so that they will not only put themselves into the history books as the first Indonesian national team to win the biennial regional affair, but also earn some financial jackpot the right way.
The PSSI have thrown the gauntlet to its national team, now will the FAT, FAS, FAM and VFF respond with similar cash incentives?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
D-Day for World Cups 2018 and 2022
Here are the results that have just been announced by FIFA Secretary-General Sepp Blatter (The writer has been following the updates from BBC Sport this evening for this moment of truth.)
2018 FIFA World Cup hosts - Russia
Voting Results (22 votes by FIFA Executive Committee, 12 to win)
Round 1
Russia 9 votes
Spain/ Portugal 7 votes
Netherlands/ Belgium 4 votes
England 2 votes (Eliminated)
Round 2
Russia 13 votes (Russia wins absolute majority.)
Spain/ Portugal 7 votes
Netherlands/ Belgium 2 votes
2022 FIFA World Cup hosts - Qatar
Voting Results (same as 2018 vote, 12 votes out of 22 for majority)
Round 1
Qatar 11 votes
South Korea 4 votes
Japan 3 votes
USA 3 votes
Australia 1 vote (Eliminated)
Round 2
Qatar 10 votes
South Korea 5 votes
USA 5 votes
Japan 2 votes (Eliminated)
Round 3
Qatar 11 votes
USA 6 votes
South Korea 5 votes (Eliminated)
Round 4
Qatar 14 votes (Qatar win absolute majority.)
USA 8 votes
There Bola Bang told you, Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2018 FIFA World Cup hosts - Russia
Voting Results (22 votes by FIFA Executive Committee, 12 to win)
Round 1
Russia 9 votes
Spain/ Portugal 7 votes
Netherlands/ Belgium 4 votes
England 2 votes (Eliminated)
Round 2
Russia 13 votes (Russia wins absolute majority.)
Spain/ Portugal 7 votes
Netherlands/ Belgium 2 votes
2022 FIFA World Cup hosts - Qatar
Voting Results (same as 2018 vote, 12 votes out of 22 for majority)
Round 1
Qatar 11 votes
South Korea 4 votes
Japan 3 votes
USA 3 votes
Australia 1 vote (Eliminated)
Round 2
Qatar 10 votes
South Korea 5 votes
USA 5 votes
Japan 2 votes (Eliminated)
Round 3
Qatar 11 votes
USA 6 votes
South Korea 5 votes (Eliminated)
Round 4
Qatar 14 votes (Qatar win absolute majority.)
USA 8 votes
There Bola Bang told you, Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Finals Matchday 2
Group B in Hanoi, Vietnam
Singapore 1 Philippines 1
Vietnam 7 Myanmar 1
Chris Greatwich netted a last-gasp equaliser in injury time to cancel out Aleksandar Duric's second half opener to hand the Philippines a shock 1-1 draw with Singapore in the opening game at My Dinh Stadium.
Defending champions and co-hosts Vietnam then signalled their intentions to keep the title for the second straight edition running with an emphatic 7-1 thumping over Myanmar in the other game.
A brace each from Nguyen Anh Duc and substitute Nguyen Trong Hoang, and further goals from Le Tan Tai, Nguyen Minh Phuong and Nguyen Vu Phong sealed the three points for the home side while Myanmar replied in the first half through Aung Kyaw Moe.
Singapore 1 Philippines 1
Vietnam 7 Myanmar 1
Chris Greatwich netted a last-gasp equaliser in injury time to cancel out Aleksandar Duric's second half opener to hand the Philippines a shock 1-1 draw with Singapore in the opening game at My Dinh Stadium.
Defending champions and co-hosts Vietnam then signalled their intentions to keep the title for the second straight edition running with an emphatic 7-1 thumping over Myanmar in the other game.
A brace each from Nguyen Anh Duc and substitute Nguyen Trong Hoang, and further goals from Le Tan Tai, Nguyen Minh Phuong and Nguyen Vu Phong sealed the three points for the home side while Myanmar replied in the first half through Aung Kyaw Moe.
Hail the Azkals!
The Philippines' stunning 1-1 stalemate with favourites Singapore will rank as one of their best results in their international football history.
Coached by Englishman Simon McMenemy, the Azkals belied their so-called minnow status in regional football by giving as good as they got, matching their so-called more superior opponents for much of the game.
Only in the job for just more than three months, the former non-league assistant manager has worked some kind of miracle into the team, blending in the foreign-born Filipino-blood imports with the locals into a formidable unit.
While the process of naturalising these imports for Philippines football has begun way back in 2004 with the arrivals of goalscorer Chris Greatwitch, Chad Gould and the Younghusband brothers, Philip and James, it is the influx of the likes of Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Jason de Jong and Ray Jonsson who have greatly strengthened the side.
Etheridge, save for the goal he conceded, was a rock that the Lions endured a frustrating evening gettting past. He was probably the main reason why his side were in contention for the game they held their own for so long before their deserved equaliser.
While their tactic forward was virtually a throwback of the old-fashioned long ball forward, such was its effectiveness, coupled with the clever exploitation of space and poor positioning by the Lions, that Singapore were never given an easy ride at all.
The Philippines will probably still not make it past the group stage, but their precious one point could pave the way for more miracles in that team, and probably spice up the passion of football in the basketball and Pacaqiao-mad nation.
Coached by Englishman Simon McMenemy, the Azkals belied their so-called minnow status in regional football by giving as good as they got, matching their so-called more superior opponents for much of the game.
Only in the job for just more than three months, the former non-league assistant manager has worked some kind of miracle into the team, blending in the foreign-born Filipino-blood imports with the locals into a formidable unit.
While the process of naturalising these imports for Philippines football has begun way back in 2004 with the arrivals of goalscorer Chris Greatwitch, Chad Gould and the Younghusband brothers, Philip and James, it is the influx of the likes of Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Jason de Jong and Ray Jonsson who have greatly strengthened the side.
Etheridge, save for the goal he conceded, was a rock that the Lions endured a frustrating evening gettting past. He was probably the main reason why his side were in contention for the game they held their own for so long before their deserved equaliser.
While their tactic forward was virtually a throwback of the old-fashioned long ball forward, such was its effectiveness, coupled with the clever exploitation of space and poor positioning by the Lions, that Singapore were never given an easy ride at all.
The Philippines will probably still not make it past the group stage, but their precious one point could pave the way for more miracles in that team, and probably spice up the passion of football in the basketball and Pacaqiao-mad nation.
AFF Suzuki Cup Group B: Singapore 1 Philippines 1
A Chris Greatwitch equaliser in the third minute of injury time help the Philippines to a shock 1-1 draw with Singapore in their opening Group B encounter at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.
It cancelled the lead the Lions took in the 65th minute through Aleksandar Duric who headed home off a Noh Alam Shah assist on the goalline.
The last-gasp goal was unsurprising giving the shocking defending Singapore had consistently displayed, especially when they were caught on the counter attacks.
Credit to the Philippines, who were regarded as many before the tournament as one of the whipping boys, but more on that in another entry.
Let us just focus on the Lions.
The two points lost, as many aggreived Singapore fans could call it, was probably the best wake-up call the national team needed.
Against more credible opposition than initially thought, they found themselves at times on the backfoot as the Azkals poured men forward with nothing to lose.
The back four of Juma'at Jantan, Noh Rahman, Daniel Bennett and Baihakki Khaizan were at times caught flat-footed in defence as the blue shirts countered and exploited the generosity of space left behind by the midfield duo of Fahrudin Mustafic and Shahdan Sulaiman.
While the Lions gradually played the better football as time wore on, much was left to be desired at the other end as well. For all the passing and creativity, the final killer pass and finish was sorely and ominously lacking.
Philippines goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was the revelation of the finals with his outstanding performances between the posts. Commanding in the box, the Fulham third-choice custodian was not afraid to rush out and snuff out any potential damage the Lions could throw at him.
The best chance before the opening goal came from Shahdan, who had an impressive outing in his first competitive international start. Showing vision to be at the right place at the right time, his goal-bound chip inside the six-yard box was hacked away by Pinoy centre-back Anton Del Rosario before the ball could bounce further into the net.
Apart from that, Singapore were generally very wasteful in front of goal. The first half was a warning sign of things to come and too many long balls were pumped forward. Same old story once again. Nothing had changed, had it?
The second half saw better Lions passing on the ground, but the defending remained woeful. It only took Singapore this long to be finally punished.
Now it is back to the drawing board for Radjoko Avramovic and his men as their qualification hopes from the group stage plunge into jeporady.
The writer has privately predicted Singapore to exit from the group stage, now this looks to be reality after 8 December.
Only the Lions know what they have to do before more cracks emerge on the pitch for the remainder of the tournament, however long.
It cancelled the lead the Lions took in the 65th minute through Aleksandar Duric who headed home off a Noh Alam Shah assist on the goalline.
The last-gasp goal was unsurprising giving the shocking defending Singapore had consistently displayed, especially when they were caught on the counter attacks.
Credit to the Philippines, who were regarded as many before the tournament as one of the whipping boys, but more on that in another entry.
Let us just focus on the Lions.
The two points lost, as many aggreived Singapore fans could call it, was probably the best wake-up call the national team needed.
Against more credible opposition than initially thought, they found themselves at times on the backfoot as the Azkals poured men forward with nothing to lose.
The back four of Juma'at Jantan, Noh Rahman, Daniel Bennett and Baihakki Khaizan were at times caught flat-footed in defence as the blue shirts countered and exploited the generosity of space left behind by the midfield duo of Fahrudin Mustafic and Shahdan Sulaiman.
While the Lions gradually played the better football as time wore on, much was left to be desired at the other end as well. For all the passing and creativity, the final killer pass and finish was sorely and ominously lacking.
Philippines goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was the revelation of the finals with his outstanding performances between the posts. Commanding in the box, the Fulham third-choice custodian was not afraid to rush out and snuff out any potential damage the Lions could throw at him.
The best chance before the opening goal came from Shahdan, who had an impressive outing in his first competitive international start. Showing vision to be at the right place at the right time, his goal-bound chip inside the six-yard box was hacked away by Pinoy centre-back Anton Del Rosario before the ball could bounce further into the net.
Apart from that, Singapore were generally very wasteful in front of goal. The first half was a warning sign of things to come and too many long balls were pumped forward. Same old story once again. Nothing had changed, had it?
The second half saw better Lions passing on the ground, but the defending remained woeful. It only took Singapore this long to be finally punished.
Now it is back to the drawing board for Radjoko Avramovic and his men as their qualification hopes from the group stage plunge into jeporady.
The writer has privately predicted Singapore to exit from the group stage, now this looks to be reality after 8 December.
Only the Lions know what they have to do before more cracks emerge on the pitch for the remainder of the tournament, however long.
Bola Bang's Picks on World Cup host (Particularly 2022)
2 December 2010 will see the hosts of FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022 being decided in Zurich, Switzerland.
With such intense build-up to the bids, no surprises when conspiracy theories and accusations begin to fly from different corners of the ring.
2018 is set to be held in Europe, whether it goes to England (my personal choice), Holland-Belgium, Spain-Portgual or Russia.
What is more interesting is the race for the 2022 bid. Co-hosts of the 2002 edition, South Korea and Japan, have presented separate bids this time. The other contenders are Australia, 1994 hosts United States of America and Qatar.
This could well be a much closer and possibly controversial call on who will get to host in 2022. I am certain that edition will be held in the most populous continent, so sorry Yanks better luck next time.
That leaves the quartet of Australia, South Korea, Japan and Qatar. It is lamentable that the present poor state of Chinese football domestically and internationally have ensured that China will at best present a bid for 2026 and beyond, otherwise it will probably be a less tight contest that it is in the present.
Despite their strong football cultures and institutionalisation, South Korea and Japan will probably be out of the running as they have hosted the first World Cup of this century. So only two remain: Australia and Qatar. Neither of them have hosted the World Cup, even though Australia played host to the Summer Olympics twice (in 1956 and 2000).
The Aussies have a strong sports culture. Their sporting infrastructure is one of the best in the world and their successful track record of hosting large-scale international events put them in good stead to host the world's biggest and most prestigious sporting showcase.
While the Qataris' sporting culture is still relatively in its infancy, they have the gold and ambition to be the first nation from the Middle East to host any international event of significance.
Their successful running of the 2006 edition of the Asian Games, while at a few quarters pointing it as very football-centric (as hosts they won the prized gold medal in football that year), puts them in good stead in convincing the key men in the corridors of FIFA of their case.
And they have one man who can really make all this possible. His name: Mohammad bin Hammam.
FIFA vice-president and AFC chief, the Qatari has brought Asian football to the dizzying heights it is enjoying today with his persistence and vision for the betterment of the game in this part of the world.
With all the frantic lobbying going on in Switzerland, be prepared for a few surprises when the votes are finally tallied and the hosts decided come Thursday evening local time.
While Australia believe they have a strong case for 2022, my sneaky feeling is Qatar will stun the world by winning the right to host the tournament that year.
With such intense build-up to the bids, no surprises when conspiracy theories and accusations begin to fly from different corners of the ring.
2018 is set to be held in Europe, whether it goes to England (my personal choice), Holland-Belgium, Spain-Portgual or Russia.
What is more interesting is the race for the 2022 bid. Co-hosts of the 2002 edition, South Korea and Japan, have presented separate bids this time. The other contenders are Australia, 1994 hosts United States of America and Qatar.
This could well be a much closer and possibly controversial call on who will get to host in 2022. I am certain that edition will be held in the most populous continent, so sorry Yanks better luck next time.
That leaves the quartet of Australia, South Korea, Japan and Qatar. It is lamentable that the present poor state of Chinese football domestically and internationally have ensured that China will at best present a bid for 2026 and beyond, otherwise it will probably be a less tight contest that it is in the present.
Despite their strong football cultures and institutionalisation, South Korea and Japan will probably be out of the running as they have hosted the first World Cup of this century. So only two remain: Australia and Qatar. Neither of them have hosted the World Cup, even though Australia played host to the Summer Olympics twice (in 1956 and 2000).
The Aussies have a strong sports culture. Their sporting infrastructure is one of the best in the world and their successful track record of hosting large-scale international events put them in good stead to host the world's biggest and most prestigious sporting showcase.
While the Qataris' sporting culture is still relatively in its infancy, they have the gold and ambition to be the first nation from the Middle East to host any international event of significance.
Their successful running of the 2006 edition of the Asian Games, while at a few quarters pointing it as very football-centric (as hosts they won the prized gold medal in football that year), puts them in good stead in convincing the key men in the corridors of FIFA of their case.
And they have one man who can really make all this possible. His name: Mohammad bin Hammam.
FIFA vice-president and AFC chief, the Qatari has brought Asian football to the dizzying heights it is enjoying today with his persistence and vision for the betterment of the game in this part of the world.
With all the frantic lobbying going on in Switzerland, be prepared for a few surprises when the votes are finally tallied and the hosts decided come Thursday evening local time.
While Australia believe they have a strong case for 2022, my sneaky feeling is Qatar will stun the world by winning the right to host the tournament that year.
Will This Finally Be Riedl's Time?
 |
| Alfred Riedl (right) conducting Indonesia training at Stadium Bung Karno. (Picture taken from AFF Suzuki Cup official website) |
Such is the impact made that the locals in Vietnam were willing to offer their kidneys when the Austrian veteran coach was diagnosed with kidney failure earlier in the past decade.
While present Vietnam head coach Henrique Caslito was the toast of the town two years ago when he led them to their first ever international title, it was Riedl who laid the foundations for the success of the present team.
He has had three stints with Vietnam, leading them to the then-Tiger Cup runners-up as hosts in 1998 and steering them into the last eight of the AFC Asian Cup finals in 2007.
Then in the 2009 Southeast Asian Games hosted by Laos, he led the host nation to unprecedent new territory as they exceeded expectations by reaching the last four of the football tournament. Many from that class now form the core of the present Laotian national team playing in the ongoing Suzuki Cup.
Unlike the Indochinese states, this archipalego nation will be a tougher nut to crack. Ivan Kolev came close. Peter Withe divided Indonesia with his coaching style. Benny Dolo could not get the best out of the talent available. Ditto the other local and foreign coaches that have come and gone in the elusive chase of regional supremacy.
On paper, the likes of Uruguayan-born Christian Gonzalez, Bambang Pangmukas, Muhd Riduan and company represent some of the best talents the fourth most populous nation in the world has produced in the international scene. Getting the best out of the them has been another story with their mecurial form.
Where others have failed, now it is Riedl's turn to make what is seemingly impossible into gold. That means the championship trophy. While honours have remained elusive for the genial Austrian in the region so far, his track record in turning minnows into contenders is not to be overlooked.
Indonesia have more talent in abundance, to the point of being able to axe several because of ill-discipline, than Laos presently and Vietnam then pre-1998. The pressure is on this man to deliver, but having faced tougher opponents on the pitch and in life, he is ready and capable of bringing some joy at last to the football-mad nation.
The Indonesians' 5-1 opening Group A victory over Malaysia on Wednesday evening signalled the first steps forward.
AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Finals Matchday 1
Group A in Jakarta, Indonesia
Thailand 2 Laos 2
Indonesia 5 Malaysia 1
Eye-popping results were the order of the day in the opening action of the eighth edition of the biennial regional tournament.
The first game of the finals saw underdogs Laos taking the lead twice before Thai forward Sarayut Chaikamdee, or more popularly known as 'Joe Five Yards', snatched a point from an embarassing defeat with a last-gasp equaliser.
Later, the co-hosts, coached by Austrian Alfred Riedl, signalled their intentions with a 5-1 thumping over their injury-hit opponents.
A determined Indonesia, a fatigued Thailand, a ravaged Malaysia and party poppers Laos. Group A promises to be more intriguing in the days ahead.
Thailand 2 Laos 2
Indonesia 5 Malaysia 1
Eye-popping results were the order of the day in the opening action of the eighth edition of the biennial regional tournament.
The first game of the finals saw underdogs Laos taking the lead twice before Thai forward Sarayut Chaikamdee, or more popularly known as 'Joe Five Yards', snatched a point from an embarassing defeat with a last-gasp equaliser.
Later, the co-hosts, coached by Austrian Alfred Riedl, signalled their intentions with a 5-1 thumping over their injury-hit opponents.
A determined Indonesia, a fatigued Thailand, a ravaged Malaysia and party poppers Laos. Group A promises to be more intriguing in the days ahead.
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