Two goals from Teerasil Daengda handed Thailand a 2-0 victory over Burma in the AFF Suzuki Cup semifinal on Sunday.
The War Elephants broke the deadlock 22 minutes into the match after Teerasil curled a left footer past goalkeeper Yan Aung Lin to put the Thai side ahead of the host.
The one-goal lead forced the Burma team to step up the tempo of the game but they could not break the defence of the reigning champion. The in-form striker then put the visitors in a comfortable lead 11 minutes after the break.
Burma’s fans packed the 32,000-seat Thuwunna Stadium on Sunday, with many queueing up for tickets in the morning to cheer their team against Thailand.
Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang said after the game that the team accomplished its plan with a win in the first leg. He expected a full house at Rajamangala Stadium on the return leg on Dec. 8 and promised that the team would not be carried away with Sunday’s win.
Kiatisak said before the match that he expected a good fight from the host, while his Burma counterpart Gerd Zeise vowed fans would see the best from his men on the pitch.
In another semifinal match on Saturday, Indonesia edged Vietnam 2-1 in Bogor.
