Thais ready for final against Indonesia
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Thais ready for final against Indonesia

Thailand national U19 team players pose for a pre-match photograph.
Thailand national U19 team players pose for a pre-match photograph.

Thailand will take on hosts Indonesia in the final of the Asean U19 Boys' Championship on Monday.

The Indonesians overcame Malaysia through a Muhammad Buffon goal on Saturday night after Thailand had edged Australia off an own goal from defender Dylan Leonard in the first semi-final on the same day.

The final will kick off at 7.30pm at GBT Stadium in Surabaya.

Thailand junior team coach Emerson Pereira is worried that Indonesia will have the home crowd backing them up in the title showdown.

"They are the hosts of the tournament and have crowds supporting them. They will surely want to win the trophy this time," said Pereira.

"However, we will not let them have it [the trophy] easily. We are here to win as well. It will be a good and exciting match from both teams.

"Only one match to go and we are looking forward to the final game."

He added that at this moment the staff coaches are working on helping the players regain their fitness.

"We have only one day's rest and it is important for our team to recover their fitness before the final match.

"We are also analysing the Indonesian team and will get the boys ready for the next match.

"We have played teams that had different strengths and were able to do well. We will be trying to fight for a victory in the final as well.

"Right now, we are in the final and I am really proud of this squad. I keep telling them to take things on a match-by-match basis and this was my advice to them before the semi-final against the Australians as well.

"This has been a very rewarding experience for me. I had left for Brazil when I was contacted to return to Thailand and coach the national U19 team.

"We will stick together, help each other and hopefully find a way to win the trophy."

The two losing semi-finalists, Malaysia and Australia, will meet in the third-place play-off on Monday.

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