Defending champions Thailand War Elephants won an outright ticket to the 2022 AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals, repulsing the Philippine Azkals, 4-0, at the Thammasat Stadium in Rangsit Monday evening.

This was the Azkals worst defeat in an AFF Championship finals since 2007, when they lost to Thailand and Malaysia with a similar score.

Legendary forward Teerasil Dangda scored a brace in the first half, which included an early header off a Theeraton Bunmathan free kick from midfield in the third minute.

Dangda then scored his 58th international goal in the 41st minute via a penalty kick awarded off a foul by Amani Aguinaldo to an attacking Ekanit Panya from inside the box.

The Azkals spent the entire first half without a shot attempt despite having 40 per cent of possessions, as their tiki-taka offense anchored on Stephan Schrock’s playmaking could not manage to penetrate their attacking third.

While the Azkals found a little energy from reserves Sebastian Rasmussen, Pika Minegishi, and Sandro Reyes in the second half, the War Elephants was faster in the counterattack, as Adisak Kraisorn scored off a nifty cross by Dangda in the 57th minute.

This was followed six minutes later by a similar running attack from Suphanan Bureerat off a short volley from Bording Phala for his maiden international goal.

Rasmussen and Minegishi managed to shoot in the 65th and 74th minute, respectively, but were blocked by goalkeeper Kittipong Phoothacheuk.

These were the only shots by the Azkals—a far cry from their 21 attempts in their game against Brunei last Friday.

In contrast, Thailand had 22 shots and ten on goal.

The War Elephants collected their second win in as many games while the Azkals drop at fourth place in Group A with one win and two losses and are hoping for losses from Indonesia and Cambodia—and a better goal differential than them—to stay alive in the tournament.

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