The Hindu : Sport / Football : Australia downs Thailand

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Thursday, Nov 02, 2006
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Australia downs Thailand

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA : Australia playing with 10 men, beat a full-strength Thailand 3-1 in a group B match of the AFC Youth Championship football here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday. Having lost its first match against China, Australia needed a win desperately to stay in contention for a quarterfinal berth. On the other hand Thailand, coming to the match after surprising UAE 2-1 in the previous round, appeared to hold the psychological edge. Australia, with its first point, is now level with Thailand. Both have three points from two matches.

Exciting

The first session of the encounter was most exciting. Thailand's Wiscot Bunpeng got a through pass from the midfield on top of the Australian box but failed to finish from close range. Hereabouts Australia suffered a jolt as its key forward, Bruce Djite received marching orders for stamping on Thailand midfielder Kriangkrai Pimrat, in the 22nd minute. Undaunted by this reverse, Australia attacked and found the lead in the 26th minute. Forward Nathan Burns outran his Thai markers to collect a Christopher Grossman pass and beat an advancing goalkeeper to slot the ball home.

The Australians were rewarded again in the 31st minute. The referee held Thailand's Ponlawat Wangkhad guilty of handling the ball inside his own box while trying to clear a high ball and awarded Australia a penalty. Dario Vidosic scored to make it 2-0. Thailand next earned a penalty — the second one of the match — when the Australian defender Peter Eleftherakis was pulled up for fouling Anawin Jujeen. Suttinun Phukhom scored.

The second session did not produce much of action as Australia decided to curb its aggressive intent. As the match approached its end Burns finished a fine counter-attack to make it 3-1 for Australia.

Hat-trick by Shin

Defending champion Korea Republic ensured a quarterfinal berth drubbing Kyrgyzstan 7-0 in the other group A match on Tuesday. Young Rok Shin scored a hat-trick to star in Korea's big win.

The Koreans got into the scoring act in the fifth minute through Sang Ho Lee, who headed home a Hyeun Seung Lee lob. Eight minutes later, Young Rok Shin doubled the lead with a fine volley (2-0).

Under relentless Korean pressure, the Kyrgyz defence gave way, captain Stephan Miagkih scoring an own goal in the 20th minute. Young Rok Shin got his second and the team's fourth goal in the 49th minute before Sang Ho Lee made it 5-0 in the 62nd. Young Rok Shin completed his hat-trick converting a penalty in the 70th minute. Hyun Bem Park volleyed home a corner in the 84th minute to complete the tally.

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