An injury-time header from Chenrop Samphaodi has sent Thailand U-22 to SEA Games final third time in a row.
In the post-match conference reported by Bangkok Post, Thailand U22 team coach Worrawoot Srimaka said he was so stressed out that he had completely lost the sense of time towards the end of the match.
“When Chenrop scored the goal and gave us the lead, I thought there were 15 minutes left. I was so immersed in the game and worried,” said Worrawoot.
“I only realized that we needed to hang in there for only another minute when a staff coach told me that the match is about to end.”
On the other hand, the former Thailand international motivated his men to focus on the final showdown against hosts Malaysia on Tuesday.
“If we win the gold medal, it will be a big gift for the Thai people. We will try our best to bring our campaign to a successful end. This is the only way to prove to everyone that we have been working hard.”
The final on Tuesday at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil will be a repeat of the 2001 SEA Games final in Kuala Lumpur, where Thailand were crowned gold medal with a 1-0 win over Malaysia.