Football: Sarawut Late Strike Puts Thais In Suzuki Semis

MANILA, Philippines, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2016 ) - Thailand reached the semi-finals of the Suzuki Cup on Tuesday thanks to a last-gasp goal against Singapore from super-sub Sarawut Masuk.

The winger flicked a header into the Singapore goal in the 89th minute, latching on to a perfectly weighted cross from Theerathon Bunmathan to break the hearts of their opponents who looked to have done enough for a draw.

The Thais dominated possession, though Singapore right back Juma'at Jantan and striker Khairul Amri both wasted good chances to score against the run of play. The Thais, the last Southeast Asian squad still in the running for the 2018 World Cup, have contested the last two Suzuki Cup finals.

Assured of a semi-final slot with a perfect six points from two games, the Thais are bidding to become the first country to win the biennial Southeast Asian competition five times. Indonesia and the Philippines, both badly in need of a win to get the other semi-final slot in the group, settled for a 2-2 draw in the other match in Manila on Tuesday.

Defender Fachruddin Aryanto struck for the visitors in the seventh minute, but the hosts equalised through forward Misagh Bahadoran in the 31st minute. Striker Boaz Solossa restored the Indonesian advantage after the hour, only for forward Philip Younghusband to restore parity late on.