Thailand’s Puangjan Thitiphan (2nd left) scores his team’s second goal against Indonesia during the semi-finals at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore. (Reuters)

 

Agencies/Singapore


Thailand’s “Messi Jay” put the seal on a thumping 5-0 win over Indonesia as the defending champions stormed into the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games final against Myanmar yesterday.
Chanathip Songkrasin, glowingly compared to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, scored in the last minute to round off an emphatic semi-final victory in Singapore.
The scale and manner of the win will install Thailand as raging favourites for tomorrow’s final against dark horses Myanmar, who rode their luck in a 2-1 upset of Vietnam. It also gives Indonesia a chastening send-off into the international wilderness after they were suspended by world body FIFA over political interference.
Thailand attacked fluently from the outset and it was no surprise when Rungrat Phumichantuk, pouncing on a rebound, put them in front on 13 minutes. Thitiphan Puangjan nodded Thailand’s second in the 29th minute before Rungrat got his second thanks to Nurul Sriyankem’s perfect cross six minutes after half-time.
Narubadin Weerawatnodom produced a tight finish on 57 minutes to make it four before “Messi Jay” Chanathip, who had hit the post, grabbed the fifth.  “We are not Barcelona—we get gold first and then we talk,” said Thai coach Promrut Choketawee.
Earlier fortune smiled on Myanmar as they shocked a vibrant Vietnam side 2-1, helped by a penalty and a wickedly deflected winner. Myanmar’s youngest player, 18-year-old Si Thu Aung, converted a penalty on 39 minutes after Vietnam’s Ho Ngoc Thang inadvertently blocked a free-kick with his elbow.
Vietnam responded with all-out attack as they dominated the match but they were thwarted by Myanmar’s inspired goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo and their own wayward finishing. The Vietnamese finally equalised in the 72nd minute through midfielder Vo Huy Toan with an easy tap-in to an empty net.
But Myanmar snatched victory when Lin Nay Tun’s shot looped off a defender and into the net on 80 minutes. The win was a surprise even to Myanmar’s coach Kyi Lwin, after free-flowing Vietnam failed to convert their chances in wave after wave of attack. “I feel very surprised about the result and I would like to thank all our players,” said the coach, a silver-medallist from Myanmar’s only previous final appearance in 1993.

Malaysian minister defends gymnast’s outfit
Meanwhile, a Malaysian government minister came out in defence of one of the country’s gold medal winning gymnasts at the Southeast Asian Games after critics said her outfit was too revealing. Farah Ann Abdul Hadi was one of the stars of the artistic gymnastics competition at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore but unwittingly got more attention for her leotard than her somersaults. The 21-year-old won two gold medals, a silver and three bronzes from her six events, catapulting her into the spotlight in her Muslim homeland.
Her attire, a standard costume worn by gymnasts, drew some complaints on social media with critics saying it was too revealing. But she also received strong support, including a tweet from Malaysian Sports and Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
“In gymnastics Farah wowed the judges and brought home gold. In her deeds only the Almighty judges her. Not you. Leave our athletes alone,” he posted. With three days of competition remaining, Malaysia are fourth on the 11-nation medals table, with 45 golds. Thailand lead the standings with 78 golds, ahead of host-nation Singapore (74) and Vietnam (65).
Thailand collected another seven golds yesterday, including two each in tennis and taekwondo and have plenty of chances to add to their tally.
Noppawan Lertcheewakarn beat her team mate Varatchaya Wongteanchai 3-6 6-0 6-4 in the women’s singles, then Sanchai Ratiwatana joined forces with his twin brother Sonchat to win gold in the men’s doubles at Kallang Tennis Centre.
Thailand won two of the four gold medals in taekwondo, with teenager Akkarinne Kitwijarn, the silver medallist at the Asian Games, winning the men’s bantamweight while Chanatip Sonkham triumphed in the women’s under 49s division.
Sonkham defeated Luisa dos Santos Rosa, who picked up a first silver medal for East Timor, the newest member to join the region’s biggest multi-sports event. Thailand also won golds in archery, sepak takraw and petanque and were unlucky not to win another in cycling.
Thailand’s Asian champion Jutatip Maneephan crossed the line first in the women’s road race but was later relegated to second, behind Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi That, because of a rule infringement in the sprint finish.
Tiny Singapore, which led the medals table for the first 10 days before being overtaken by Thailand on Friday night, held on to second place after picking four more golds yesterday, including two in sailing.
The youngest winner was 14-year-old Jodie Lai, who claimed gold in the women’s optimist class. Last year, Lai became the youngest Singaporean to win a gold medal at the Asian Games when she won the same event aged 13.