Final ticket does not reflect the entire performance
In the second leg semi-final against Thailand, Singapore controlled the ball 61%, launched 12 shots, 6 shots on target. Thailand only held the ball 39%, had 11 shots and had difficulty in deploying the ball when the opponent pushed up the squad.
The goals also partly reflect those instabilities. Goalkeeper Kampol Pathomakkakul made a mistake in the situation where Singapore opened the score. After Kakana Khamyok equalized from the penalty spot, Thailand let Singapore take the lead with Pansa Hemviboon's own goal. Personal mistakes do not always reflect the entire quality of a team, but the fact that such situations appear in an important match shows that Thailand has not achieved the necessary stability. Coach Hudson also admitted that the team missed many opportunities and had fitness problems.
The result is disappointing. I think we could have done better, especially missing many golden opportunities to equalize in the match" - Mr. Hudson said.
The question raised by the Golden Temple country media is whether the current playing style is enough for the Thai team to compete with a stronger opponent in the championship match.
The problem before the final
The defeat to Singapore is more meaningful than a single result. This is the first time in more than 16 years that Thailand has lost to Singapore at home. According to statistics, the last time Singapore won in Thailand was in 2009. Since then, Thailand has maintained a long unbeaten streak through many tournaments.
The termination of this streak of achievements in the ASEAN Cup semi-finals shows that the balance in the region is changing somewhat. Singapore is no longer a team that has to find ways to defend against top Southeast Asian opponents. For Thailand, this is also a test for the process of building a team under Mr. Hudson.
The English coach is combining young players and experienced factors. This aims to renew the force, but at the same time requires time to form tactical stability. Fitness is also one of the issues mentioned after the match.
There were some problems throughout the match, especially in the first half when many players appeared tired and had to replace quite a few players due to cramps. But we still had enough time to recover for the final" - Mr. Hudson said.
If this situation continues to occur, Thailand may face difficulties against an opponent who can maintain high intensity for 90 minutes. With a final, when tactical and psychological pressure is greater, small mistakes can cost the team.
Pansa Hemviboon's case is an example. This center-back became the first player in ASEAN Cup history to score an own goal in two consecutive tournaments. Previously, he had scored an own goal in the second leg final of ASEAN Cup 2024 against Vietnam. Personal mistakes can affect the results in top matches.
At this time, the Thai team entered the final with two parallel states. On the one hand, they have the necessary achievements and good advantages. On the other hand, the defeat to Singapore shows that the team has not reached a stable state in ball control, fitness and limiting mistakes.
The final ticket is an achievement, but it also opens up a bigger test for Mr. Hudson and his students.
