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Although Laos ' loss to Malaysia on Monday in the semifinals of the SEA Games tournament broke the hearts of local supporters, most are still eager to see the third-place playoff between Laos and Singapore today.

Spot checks by the Vientiane Times found that most supporters were on the hunt for tickets to see the fight for a bronze medal, slated for 3pm at the Chao Anouvong Stadium.

Local businessman Mr Bounsavath said he didn't make it to the Laos-Malaysia game but was definitely going to watch the final appearance of Laos when they face Singapore for the second time in the tournament.

“We don't care about the result of the final to be played at the National Stadium, we just want to show our support for Laos and spur them on in their bronze medal attempt. Don't worry, Lao fans will be by their side whether they win or lose.”

That opinion was typical of the sentiments of local fans who desperately want the Lao squad to put on a good performance and do their best to get a medal from the tournament.

Lao Men's Football Team Manager Viphet Sihachackr echoed these feelings on Tuesday.

“Now we are playing in our fifth match of the tournament. We had hoped this would be the gold medal match, but we're playing for the bronze medal instead.”

“I'd like to thank all Lao fans for buying tickets and cheering us on so enthusiastically. I'm confident the crowd today will be every bit as supportive as at previous matches,” he said.

Mr Viphet said it would be good if entry to the match were free, but the SEA Games Organising Committee said the normal ticket price would stand and that rule had to be respected.

The Lao line-up will be similar to previous matches with the exception of defender Keovixian Keovilay who has picked up an injury.

“Our match with Singapore today won't be like last time when we were both looking at a place in the semi-final. This will be a more interesting game, like our match with Indonesia ,” Mr Viphet said.

That game really impressed him, he said, and he hoped today's match would be in the same league. Most of the players were at the same standard and played a similar game, which made for entertaining and competitive football.

In today's matches Laos will meet Singapore at the Chao Anouvong Stadium at 3pm and Malaysia will face Vietnam in the tournament final at the National Stadium at 5pm.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

Vientianetimes

VIENTIANE - Eight-time defending champions Thailand crashed out of the Southeast Asian Games football competition Friday after two late goals from Malaysia, who join Vietnam in the semi-finals.

Needing only a draw to qualify for the last four, Thailand were the better side for large parts of the match and made their superiority count when Arthit Sunthornphit struck seven minutes after half-time direct from a free-kick.

But nine minutes from full-time Nasriq Baharom scored at the far post after a fine cross from the left by Azmi Muslim to level the scores and give Malaysia hope.

On 90 minutes, Ahmad Fakri Saarani won the match for Malaysia, firing home a cross from the right by Norshahrul Idlan Talaha to make it 2-1 and spark wild scenes of celebration.

Vietnam topped Group A with 10 points after thumping Cambodia 6-1, with Malaysia on nine points and Thailand, who had won every SEA Games football tournament since 1993, on seven.

Timor Leste finished bottom of the five-team group with no points after four straight defeats.

Host nation Laos and Singapore on Thursday qualified for the semi-finals of the under-23 competition from Group B.

MediaCorp Channel 5 will telecast the semi-final match between Singapore and Laos live on December 14.



- AFP/ir

The hugely anticipated football match between Thailand and Vietnam will feature on the first day of the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane tomorrow. Kick-starting the event will be a match between Malaysia and Timor Leste, before the competition’s heavyweights take to the field. Vietnamese footballers were the first arrivals of the thousands athletes participating in the games, touching down before the football teams from Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Vietnamese Coach Henrique Calisto said Saturday’s match with Thailand will be the biggest for his team, given the strength of their opponents.

“Just win, just lose or just draw, we still don’t know, but we will do our best in the match,” said the Portuguese coach. “The last time we met them recently ended in a draw, so we don’t know what will happen on Wednesday.” While the Vietnamese team is hopeful of matching up to Thailand, the Thai team believe they can show their supremacy in the first match. Thai Coach Stephen Darby said on Sunday his team was preparing perfectly and was confident of winning the match.

“We believe our players can get a result on Wednesday, and we’d like to be playing again on the final day of the SEA Games.”

The men’s football teams are divided into two groups. Group A comprises Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Timor Leste and Cambodia, while Group B consists of Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia.