A hat-trick from Teerathep Winothai led Thailand to a convincing 3-0 victory over Vietnam in the final of the SEA Games football tournament at Paglaum stadium, Philippines. It was the seventh successive title for defending champions Thailand, including the 2003 final against Vietnam in Hanoi.
An emotional Thai coach Chanvit Phalajivin was delighted at his team's performance. "I am very proud," he told Tor Chittinand of the Bangkok Post. "This gold medal is for His Majesty the King to celebrate his birthday. Our boys played really well today," he said. "We thoroughly deserved our victory."
Vietnam's Austrian coach Alfred Riedl conceded Thailand were the better team. "We were under pressure right from the start," he said. "The Thai strikers were too much for our defence."
In the earlier bronze-medal match, Malaysia defeated Indonesia 1-0 through a Fadzil Shaari goal in the 75th minute. Indonesia had what looked like two legitimate penalty claims for handball turned down in the final five minutes, then Bangkok Post reported.
An emotional Thai coach Chanvit Phalajivin was delighted at his team's performance. "I am very proud," he told Tor Chittinand of the Bangkok Post. "This gold medal is for His Majesty the King to celebrate his birthday. Our boys played really well today," he said. "We thoroughly deserved our victory."
Vietnam's Austrian coach Alfred Riedl conceded Thailand were the better team. "We were under pressure right from the start," he said. "The Thai strikers were too much for our defence."
In the earlier bronze-medal match, Malaysia defeated Indonesia 1-0 through a Fadzil Shaari goal in the 75th minute. Indonesia had what looked like two legitimate penalty claims for handball turned down in the final five minutes, then Bangkok Post reported.
See also: Schedule delay as football teams drop SEA Games (7 Nov)