HANOI (Dec 27, 2008) – Thai coach Peter Reid wants his
players to cut out their mistakes in the AFF Suzuki Cup second leg
final against Vietnam tomorrow if they hope to lift Southeast
Asia's most prized piece of silverware for a record-breaking fourth
time.
Thailand, winners in 1996, 2000 and 2002, failed to take
advantage of playing on home soil and lost 2-1 to Vietnam in the
first leg. After being two goals down, a crucial decision by Reid
to replace regular striker Teeratep Winothai with Ronnachai
Rangsiyo resulted in Thailand scoring an important goal. Ronnachai
scored with his first touch a minute after coming on.
Reid said Thailand played better throughout the first leg but
admitted that lapses at the back led to the two goals. Reid
stressed his players had to reduce their errors in order to be on
top in tomorrow's final at the My Dinh Stadium here. "We have to
stop these mistakes and we will win the game."
"We have played them three times and have never underestimated
them. I thought we were the better side in Bangkok eventhough we
lost the game ... we made some mistakes in defence," said the
highly experienced English coach.
"There was also the man-of-the-match, the Vietnam goalkeeper
(Duong Hong Son) who played brilliantly."
Hong Son has been the key to Vietnam's success from the
semifinals onwards. Against Singapore in the second leg semifinal,
he performed brilliantly and stopped numerous attempts from the
strikers. He was on form again against Thailand in Bangkok and
stopped several point-blanks efforts.
Although Reid picked out Hong Son as a spoiler in the first leg,
he did not select any specific player to watch out for tomorrow.
"I'm not really looking out for any particular player, it's more to
us to cut out our personal mistakes. Anyway's it's going to be a
great atmosphere, the Vietnam fans are very passionate over their
team ... it will be a big game."
On the team's mood following the shocking loss in Bangkok three
days ago, Reid said that the players were upset.
"Obviously, after the match, there was huge disappointment. But
now they are resolute and know they have a job to do. They just
have to focus on that."
