Lanexang stun Buriram in Vientiane

Lanexang stun Buriram in Vientiane

Buriram forward Diogo Santo, right, in action against Lanexang United.
Buriram forward Diogo Santo, right, in action against Lanexang United.

Lao Premier League champions Lanexang United surprised holders Buriram United 1-0 in the first leg of the Mekong Club Championship final in Vientiane yesterday.

Khampheng Sayavutthi scored the winner for the hosts after 18 minutes at Chao Anouvong Stadium.

The Thai giants, who play in the tournament as Thai League Cup champions, dominated for long periods but failed to find the net with striker Diogo Santo squandering a couple of good chances.

The second leg will be played at Thammasat Stadium on Sunday and will be shown live on Thai Rath TV at 7pm.

Buriram share the Thai League Cup title with arch-rivals Muang Thong United after all Thai football games were cancelled following the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct 13.

The Kirins will play in the Premier Cup, a one-off match between the Thai League Cup winners and a guest team from the Japanese league on Feb 4.

Meanwhile, Witthaya Laohakul, technical chairman of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), said national coach Kiatisak Senamuang should try to salvage some pride from the World Cup qualifying round.

Thailand have got only one point from five games in Asia's final qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.

The War Elephants lost to Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, and drew with Australia.

They will play their last five matches this year, starting in March.

Witthaya said Thailand have only a slim chance of qualifying for Russia 2018 but Kiatisak should try to focus on the tactical and technical sides.

"It may be difficult to motivate the players but we should try to get seven or eight points from the remaining five games,'' he said.

Kiatisak earlier said he would try to secure six or seven points.

Since becoming the FAT technical chief last year, Witthaya has been a vocal critic of Kiatisak, who guided Thailand to retain the Suzuki Cup last month.

Kiatisak and the FAT will soon hold talks about his contract which expires next month.

Shortly after the Suzuki Cup triumph, FAT president Somyot Poompunmuang implied that Kiatisak might be replaced.

However, following criticism, Somyot said Kiatisak would remain as national coach.

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