Football
2017 International Friendly, International Friendly
MYA 
1
FT
 THA
3
Paul Murphy 6y

Teerasil on scoresheet as Thailand beat Myanmar in friendly

Teerasil Dangda was on the scoresheet again as Thailand eased past neighbours Myanmar with a 3-1 victory in a friendly in Mandalay.

Teerasil netted the second for the War Elephants after Mongkol Tossakrai had given them an early lead. Aung Thu pulled one back for the hosts before Thitipan Puangchan slotted home a late penalty to restore Thailand's two-goal advantage.

Aung Thu's late red card ensured a disappointing ending for Myanmar after impressing in patches of an entertaining match.

The Thais were hit by the news that star playmaker Chanathip "Messi Jay" Songkrasin would miss the match due to illness. But the Consadole Sapporo man's absence would not prove an obstacle to the dominant Thais.

After a lively start, Thailand came close with just six minutes on the clock when a one-two between Mongkol and Theerathon Bunmathan sliced open the home defence, with Thiha Si Thu called into action as he kept out Mongkol's low shot.

But the same pair combined to deadlier effect six minutes later. Theerathon's through ball found Mongkol in space and the winger cut inside before smashing a left-footed shot high into the net from 12 yards out.

Myanmar had several chances of their own before Thailand extended their lead through Teerasil.

In the 32nd minute, starting from a deep position, he played the ball inside to Sanrawat Dechmitr, and then dinked the ball home after receiving a perfect return pass from the Bangkok United midfielder.

Five minutes into the second half, Myanmar pulled a goal back. Substitute Zin Min Tun broke down the right and cut the ball back for Aung Thu, whose first time effort caught the Thai keeper out and he could only help the ball into the net.

The game became increasingly scrappy, with neither side creating much before substitute Siroch Chatthong's surge down the left almost led to a third Thailand goal. Siroch pulled the ball back for Teerasil in the 71st minute but the striker's shot was again high over the bar.

But Siroch soon made another impact as his run down the left was ended by a reckless challenge by Thiha Si Thu in the penalty area.

The Thais were awarded a spot kick, and Thitipan stepped up to make it 3-1 to the War Elephants with 12 minutes remaining.

Any lingering hopes of a Myanmar comeback were extinguished in the 89th minute when Aung Thu was red-carded for retaliation.

Milovan Rajevac's side held firm for yet another victory over Southeast Asian rivals, as the AFF Suzuki Cup holders flexed their muscles on the regional stage again.

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