Thailand U19 crushes Cambodia, advances to ASEAN final

Thailand U19 crushed the Cinderella story U19 Cambodia 4-0 in the opening semifinal, booking their place in the 2026 ASEAN U19 final.

Thailand U19 became the first team to earn a spot in the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship final after a comprehensive 4-0 victory over U19 Cambodia in the semifinals. In this match, the Land of Golden Pagoda side displayed composure, maturity, and a far superior ability to capitalize on opportunities than their opponents.

U19 Cambodia entered the match with great confidence after previously holding U19 Australia to a 2-2 draw in the group stage. That result helped the Temple Pagoda team qualify for the semifinals as the best second-placed team. However, against a more organized Thailand U19 side, the magic did not appear again.

Right from the opening whistle, U19 Cambodia started enthusiastically. They proactively pushed their lines high, trying to play offensively rather than sitting deep. However, this approach left their defense exposed to several gaps for Thailand U19 to exploit.

After several attempts on goal, Thailand U19 opened the scoring in the 32nd minute. From a long ball, a U19 Cambodia defender missed a header, allowing Natthakit Phosri to break through. The Thai striker beat a center-back, dribbled past the goalkeeper, and slotted into an empty net, giving his side a 1-0 lead.

The goal made it more difficult for U19 Cambodia to maintain their rhythm. Just before the first half ended, Thailand U19 continued to punish their opponents' looseness. In the 45th minute, after a central combination, Itthimon Tippanet calmly controlled and curled the ball into the far corner, making it 2-0.

In the second half, the situation became even more unfavorable for U19 Cambodia. In the 60th minute, Noem Ovanda fouled Itthimon just outside the box and received a second yellow card. Playing with a man down, Cambodia was virtually unable to generate any significant pressure on Thailand U19's goal.

With a numerical advantage, Thailand U19 completely controlled the match. In the 80th minute, Itthimon Tippanet completed his brace with a precise header from a teammate's cross. In the final minutes, Sean Udom scored an own goal, sealing a 4-0 victory for the Golden Temple team.

This victory sends Thailand U19 straight to the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship final. Their opponent will be the winner of the other semifinal between U19 Indonesia and U19 Australia at 8:15 PM on June 11. With a convincing performance against Cambodia, Thailand U19 continues to prove they are a strong candidate for the championship.