BANGKOK – Thailand got off to a perfect start in Group A of the SEA Games football tournament on Wednesday by thrashing Timor-Leste 6-1.

At the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, it was the hosts who were the far more superior team and they had a point to prove in front of their home fans.

However, they had to patient and wait till just before half-time to take the lead through Yotsakorn Burapha.

It was a different story after the break as the floodgates opened.

Yotsakorn scored two more goals in the 70th and 72nd minute to complete his hat-trick, while teammates Siraphop Wandee, Iklas Sanron and Kakana Khamyok also got on the scoresheet.

With the score at 6-0, Timor-Leste got a consolation goal via Palamito Caffin in injury time, and the Thais cruised to build momentum ahead of their clash against Singapore on Dec 11.

Thai coach Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul said before the match that his team’s only aim is to reclaim gold, after losing out in the previous final to Indonesia.

“Our aim is very clear – we want to win the gold medal,” he said on the Bangkok Post.

“Thailand have not won football gold at the SEA Games for quite some time. Now that we are hosts, we have prepared extensively over the past months.

“To win the SEA Games, you must play four tough matches. We plan to rotate players wisely to keep the squad fresh. The first step is to finish top of the group, then focus on the semi-finals and final.

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