Thailand win AFF Suzuki Cup for record sixth time, with a 6-2 aggregate win over Indonesia in Singapore

Thailand lifted the AFF Suzuki Cup for a record sixth time on Saturday, after a 2-2 draw with Indonesia in the final’s second leg sealed a 6-2 aggregate victory at the National Stadium in Singapore.

Ricky Kambuaya gave Indonesia some hope of turning around the four-goal deficit from the first leg with an early goal, but the Thais put the match out of reach with a strike by Adisak Kraisorn and an own goal early in the second half.

For Thailand it is a return to the summit four years after they last lifted the AFF Suzuki Cup trophy, with coach Alexandre Polking hailing the achievement as “special”, but urged his team to keep pushing Thai football forward.

“We showed some brilliant moments of football, defended well when we had to and created the most chances in the tournament so we have to take that belief to the next level now,” Polking said. “This is a prestigious tournament and we’re so happy that we won it, but we don’t want to stop here and then not have a chance in the World Cup qualifiers or Asian Cup qualifiers.”

Egy Maulana Vikri made it 2-2 with a late effort but it was mere consolation for the Garudas as they suffered their sixth consecutive final defeat, four of which have come at the hands of the Thais.

Facing the seemingly insurmountable deficit, Indonesia got the start they wanted as a goalkeeping error put them on the scoresheet after seven minutes.