War Elephants Crush Brunei 6-0 to Reach King's Cup Final
Thailand's national team defeated Brunei 6-0 in the King's Cup semi-final at Sisaket, advancing to face Tajikistan in the final on November 17. Coach Anthony Hudson praised the squad's tactical discipline and professionalism, while hat-trick hero Yotsakorn Burapha celebrated his first international treble. Brunei's coach acknowledged Thailand's superior set-piece execution and individual quality.
Thailand head coach Anthony Hudson expressed pride in the War Elephants' response, saying the players followed the plan from the first minute to the 90th in the 6-0 demolition of Brunei that booked a place in the King's Cup final. The 52nd edition of the royal trophy tournament took place on November 14 at Sri Narong Stadium (Ko Klang Nam) in Sisaket. Thailand will face Tajikistan in the final on November 17 at 7:00 PM.
After the match, Hudson said: "There has been considerable pressure recently. We had to convince the players that winning was the only option. I want every player to be professional, both personally and in performance. I am proud of what the athletes have shown. The most important thing is preparing for the final."
"The first half may have invited many questions, but a game lasts 90 minutes. We couldn't score early but we kept creating chances continuously, and the second half was just as good as the first."
"With several injured players in our squad, we had to give opportunities to new faces like William Weidersjö, who has trained well. I am satisfied with the available players. The substitutions were made to keep others fresh for the final. This match showed our players responding to the team's tactics from minute one to minute 90."
Yotsakorn Burapha, who scored a hat-trick, said: "I'm happy we got the win, but it's not over. We must return to training and prepare for the final. I'm delighted to score my first international hat-trick and to win my first King's Cup match."
Brunei coach Mohammed Helme Panjang said: "I was satisfied with the first half where we only conceded one goal, but in the second half Thailand brought on fresh players and we conceded repeatedly, leading to defeat. We must congratulate Thailand, especially on their set-piece play and the individual technical skills of their players.
"We must admire Thailand's game management, particularly the transition from defence to attack. The lesson from this match is that we need to learn defensive play, as our next opponent Oman has tall, big players and we must focus on man-to-man marking."
