Thai booters break RP fans’ hearts

BACOLOD — The Philippines put up a tough stand against reigning champion Thailand but committed one crucial defensive lapse that spelled disaster for the host team in an exciting SEA Games men’s football contest played before a jampacked crowd at the Panaad Sports Complex here last night.

The RP XI suffered a close 0-1 defeat to the disappointment of about 15,000 fans looking forward to a victory party in the venue, about 10 kilometers away from Bacolod downtown.

The Nationals yielded a goal on a defensive error in the 36th minute and failed to equalize despite pressing their attack in the final half, allowing the Thais to escape with the close win in Group A action.

Jakkrit Bunkham scored the game’s lone goal from 12 yards inside the box after Datsakorn Thonglao and Suchao Sa-Nguandee broke wide open from the Philippines’ interior defense with incisive passing plays.

"Jelling (of our Fil-foreign recruits with the old mainstays) was not a problem. It was just lack of concentration and poor defense that allowed the goal," said RP coach Aris Caslib. "We had our chances to score a goal."

The Nationals had numerous scoring opportunities but just couldn’t break through the Thais’ last defensive line and excellent job by goalie Narit Taweekul.

Still, the highly-appreciative crowd gave the Nationals a big applause for their courageous stand at the end of the match.

"I gave them (the Nationals) an excellent grade. The Thais were lucky we failed to convert three to four good attempts. We showed great improvement in this game. We used to lose five goals or more to Thailand," said Philippine Football Federation executive vice president Tony Chua.

Even Thai coach Chanvit Phalajivin was surprised at how the Filipinos played last night. Phalajivin said: "They played very, very well. They improved a lot."

With a tremendous boost from their Fil-foreign recruits, the Nationals figured in a slambang battle with the Thais in the second half with each team able to launch four clear attempts at a goal.

The Thai goalie proved to be their biggest thorn on the Nationals’ side as he he frustrated attempts for an equalizer by Ali Borromeo and Mark Villon in the last 15 minutes of the match.

The Thais dominated the match early on with the Nationals manning a solid defense.

But the RP XI had its chances to score in the early goings with Fil-Briton Phil Younghusband narrowly missing a header in the fourth minute then Borromeo’s foul kick being foiled by the Thai goalie.

After Bunkham broke the ice, Younghusband tried to retaliate but missed his own header in the 43rd minute . He continued pressing the attack but was hit with cramps toward the end of the contest. His elder brother James, who is also a Chelsea reserve, did a good job at midfield.