Southeast Asian fans: 'SEA Games final is better than World Cup'

On the Southeast Asian football forum Asean Football, posts updating the match scores on the Olympic stadium on the evening of May 16 attracted thousands of comments.

Many fans from Indonesia expressed their excitement with the development, including the clashes between the two teams at the end of the second half and at the beginning of the first extra time. "This is the best movie," commented @Zul Fahmi Ramadhan account. "Sports, action, adventure, sensationalism... all there".

Indonesian football page Garuda Talk marked a red X for the 2022 World Cup final, a green check for the 32nd SEA Games final with the comment: "The best final in the world".

"Great game of Indonesia", Thai fan @Natthawut Veeragitpanit commented. "Sorry for the unauthorized celebration of Thai players. Our youth teams often lose such discipline."

The final match took place according to the scenario that no one expected. Indonesia - the team that beat Vietnam in the semi-finals - took a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to an own goal from Songchai Thongcham and a goal from Ramahan Sananta. In the second half, Thailand shortened the gap thanks to Anan Yodsangwal, then equalized the score 2-2 in the ninth minute of injury time from Yotsakor Burapha's shot. After that, the Thai player celebrated wildly, running along the stands and through the Indonesian technical area, leading to a clash between the two teams.

At the beginning of extra time, Indonesia once again took the lead thanks to Irfan Jauhari. This goal sparked another brawl. As a result, the referee had to give five red cards, for Indonesian defender Komang, Thai goalkeeper Soponvit Rakyart, two members of the Thai coaching staff and one member of the Indonesian coaching staff.

Then, center back Jonathan Khemdee received a second yellow card for a rough foul, leaving Thailand to play the rest of extra time with nine men. Thanks to the numerical advantage, Indonesia scored two more goals, won 5-2 and won the first SEA Games gold medal at the U23 level.

"The match was so good," a Filipino fan shared. "Congrats to Indonesia after many years of suffering. You deserve the gold this time. I remember when you lost to Malaysia in the penalty shootout of the 2011 SEA Games final, held in Indonesia. It was a painful defeat. , but in the end you won."

Thai fan @Narongsak Chiwimahannob also expressed: "Congratulations to the clean champion Indonesia. Today, Thailand lost face both on and off the field, lost the score, went against the spirit of sport. I'm very happy. I'm sorry about this incident. Hope player No. 2 doesn't suffer too much and heals soon. Fights like this shouldn't happen again."

Sharing the above views of compatriots, @Nat Nattapon wrote: "I am watching football with more spice than ever. Ugly on and off the field. Shame of Southeast Asian football. Cambodia please develop this match for the whole world to see. Thank you so much. We've spread ugliness to the world."