THAILAND enhanced their reputation as a rising force in Asian football by putting a second club into the semi-finals of this season's Asian Football Confederation club competitions.
After the reigning Asian club champions, Thai Farmers Bank, had qualified for the semi-finals of the Asian Club Championship last week, the Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT) followed suit in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Kuala Lumpur in Bangkok, TOT went through 5-3 on aggregate after winning the second leg away 3-2 in extra-time.
TOT now meet Japan's Yokohama Flugels in the semi-finals, which will be held at one venue in January and will also involve two teams from the West Asia region.
In Kuala Lumpur, TOT took the lead in the 20th minute through Amporn Ampunsuwun but the home side equalised two minutes later when Michael Roki ran on to a through pass from midfield and chipped home.
Kuala Lumpur levelled the aggregate score in the 66th minute when Suresh headed home in spectacular style but there were no further goals in normal time.
The Thais were the stronger team in extra-time, making it 2-2 on the night with a goal in the 93rd minute from captain Pongtorn Thiubthong and sealing victory a minute from the final whistle with a third goal, scored on the break by Anan Panthong.