Thailand successfully defended their Southeast Asian (SEA) Games football crown with a 3-0 win over Myanmar in the final at the Singapore Sports Hub on Monday night.
Second half goals from defender Tanaboon Kesarat, Chananan Pombubpha and Pinyuo Inpinit sealed victory to give Thailand their sixth gold medal since the tournament became an U23 affair in 2001. The Thais scored 24 goals and conceded just one in seven matches of their successful 2015 title defence.
Backed by their vociferous fans, Myanmar started the final by trying to force the defending champions into panic mode. But Choketawee Promrut's side hardly batted an eyelid.
The Thais managed a flurry of early corners to no avail, but the signals were clear that the junior War Elephants meant business.
It took the White Angels 14 minutes to carve out their first opportunity when captain Nay Lin Tun cut in from the right and rifled his shot straight into the arms of Thailand goalkeeper Chanin Sae-ear.
Shine Thura emulated his skipper and shot straight a minute later before Thitiphan Puangjan went down the other end only to sky his shot over the bar.
It was then Nurul Sriyankem's turn to test goalkeeper Phyo Kyaw Zin but his tame free kick was easily saved by the Myanmar stopper.
Thailand's best of the half came in the 36th minute when Nurul's reverse pass found a rampaging Narubadin Weerawatnodom whose cross was met by Thithiphan's header. But the Myanmar goalkeeper was alert to the danger.
Thithiphan was guilty of another glaring miss six minutes later when Chanathip Songkrasin fooled the entire Myanmar defence and played a perfect through ball.
Thailand survived a scare just before the break when Artit Daosawang and Chanin got in each other's way with Myanmar's five-goal hero Aung Si Thu lurking. But the referee blew for offside to save the favourites' day.
Chanathip had one final opportunity right at the stroke of half time but Kyaw Zin was equal to the task in goal.
Thailand's class came to the fore in the second half as they piled on the pressure on Kyi Lwin's team.
After waves of relentless attacks, Thailand's persistence finally paid off from a corner. The ball bobbled around the box from Nurul's delivery before it fell to the feet of Tanaboon Kesarat. The defender took little time in dispatching it to the back of the net to put the defending champions ahead.
Chananan then wasted a couple of golden opportunities to double the advantage. But he was not to be denied when Chanathip put him through in the 63rd minute and the striker slid the ball across goal for his fifth goal of the tournament.
With 15 minutes remaining, Myanmar's inspirational captain Lin Tun tried his luck from a free kick but it sailed high and wide to sum up a miserable day on the pitch.
There was just no way back for the White Angels when substitute Pinyo Inpinit scored Thailand's third in the 78th minute after Sarach Yooyen's wonderful lobbed pass caught the defence out cold.
With the Myanmar players beginning to lose their cool as Chanathip brought out his party tricks, South Korean referee Kim Hee-Gon blew the final whistle to send Choketawee and his backroom staff running wild in celebration.
Thailand: Chanin Sae-ear (GK), Peerapat Notechaiya, Artit Daosawang, Tanaboon Kesarat, Narubadin Weerawatnodom (Tristan Do 82'), Sarach Yooyen (C), Thitiphan Puangjan (Chaowat Veerachart 73'), Nurul Sriyankem, Chanathip Songkrasin, Runrat Phumichantuk (Pinyo Inpinit 59'), Chananan Pombubpha
Myanmar: Phyo Kyaw Zin (GK), Aung Si Thu (Aung Zone Moe 79')), Hein Thiha Zaw, Ye Win Aung, Bo Hlaing Bo (Zaw Thiha 60'), Ye Ke Oo, Kyaw Zin Lwin, Phyo Ko Ko Thein (Ko Ko Hein 82'), Tun Nay Lin (C), Shine Thura, Naing Kaung Sat