BANGKOK: Thailand secured their 2nd successive AFF Cup trophy Monday, seeing off a deficient Vietnam facet 1-0 in the second one leg of the general to cement their standing because the main power in Southeast Asian soccer. A fierce first-half force from captain Theerathorn Bunmathan used to be sufficient to win in a scrappy come upon in Bangkok, performed beneath the watchful eye of FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino.

Theerathorn and Peeradol Chamrasamee easily managed the middle for Thailand, leaving 2018 winners Vietnam chasing shadows for far of the fit. With out the full-throated strengthen of the group they loved within the first leg in Hanoi, Vietnam struggled to copy the spirited efficiency that noticed them scrape a 2-2 draw. The three-2 mixture win gave Thailand their 7th AFF trophy – a file – and manner they have got effectively defended the identify on 3 separate events.

Theerathorn’s Twenty fourth-minute function used to be the fruit of affected person build-up play during the midfield, as Vietnam hung ever additional again. After a string of passes, full of life quantity 9 Adisak Kraisorn – a thorn in Vietnam’s facet all night – laid the ball off as Theerathorn arrived at tempo, took a marginally and unleashed a ferocious shot into the ground nook from 25 m.

The function rattled Vietnam, who shed what little concord they’d proven and virtually misplaced their heads, flying into rash tackles as the primary 1/2 closed. But it surely used to be the protecting champions who ended the fit a person brief as Peeradol won a 2nd warning in harm time. Thai trainer Mano Polking admitted it used to be now not a “stunning” efficiency however praised the professionalism proven through his workforce. “All credit score to the gamers – they did an unbelievable task,” he stated. Thailand have now received the AFF Cup seven occasions, neatly transparent in their closest competitors Singapore, on 4. – AFP