Captain Theerathon hits winner as Thailand retain ASEAN title
Captain Theerathon Bunmathan scored with a stunning 24th minute strike from distance to earn Thailand the spoils in front of their own fans at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani and deliver a record extending seventh regional crown. Thailand won the biennial title last year in Singapore, beating Indonesia over two legs in the final after the competition was delayed by 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the away goals rule in operation, Polking’s team went into the second leg with a narrow advantage after a 2-2 draw in Hanoi on Friday. Vietnam were hoping to give coach Park Hang-seo a winning send off with the South Korean announcing he would end his five-and-a-half year stint in charge at the end of the tournament. But the Golden Star Warriors struggled to make an impression in the opening exchanges against a well-drilled Thai side and it was fitting that Theerathon should put his team in front. The Buriram United midfielder has been one of Thailand’s stand-out performer...