Thailand cling to King's Cup hopes

Thailand cling to King's Cup hopes

Hosts need to beat South Korea by two goals and hope Uzbekistan fail to defeat Honduras on final day

>>Nakhon Ratchasima: Thailand have a slim chance of lifting the King's Cup on the final day of the tournament today.

Thailand will make some changes to the line-up that lost 5-2 to Uzbekistan.

After two games of the four-team tournament, South Korea have six points, Thailand and Uzbekistan three each and Honduras zero.

In today's final matches of the round-robin event, Thailand must beat South Korea by at least two goals and hope Uzbekistan fail to defeat Honduras.

Asean champions Thailand got off to a good start with a 3-1 win against Honduras' U20 team but then were humiliated 5-2 by Uzbekistan, a U22 side with a couple of full international players.

"Tomorrow's match will be an important one for us,'' said Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang.

"We have to beat South Korea and hope Uzbekistan fail to beat Honduras. If we lose to South Korea, we have to accept the result because they are a top Asian team."

Kiatisak said a win by Thailand would avenge their defeat against the Koreans at last year's Asian Games in Incheon.

Thailand lost to hosts South Korea 2-0 and many Thais still believe the team lost because of bias officiating.

The Asian Games football tournament is for U23 players. Most of Thailand's players in Incheon are in the King's Cup squad, while the South Korean team in Nakhon Ratchasima is a U22 side.

Kiatisak said he would make some changes to the line-up with Tanaboon Ketsarat likely to replace Thai-Welsh defender Mika Chunuansee who is nursing a slight injury.

Midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin said South Korea were a strong team but he and teammates would try to beat them.

South Korea edged past Uzbekistan 1-0 in the opening game and then defeated Honduras 2-0 in their second match in the Nakhon Ratchasima tournament.

Thailand last won the annual tournament in 2007.

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