HCM CITY (VNS) — Two early goals in the first half were enough for Thailand to beat a fighting Philippines two-nil to finish first at the Asian Confederation Cup U-14 Girls' Regional Championships that wrapped up yesterday at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City.

Ratchaphan Kitirat took advantage of a lapse of concentration in the Filipina defence to emerge into the box, rounding on onrushing keeper Yasmin Elauria before firing a low shot into the empty net after 12 minutes.

Thailand's spectacular second goal came rather unexpectedly eight minutes later when Dassama Laochaem volleyed a loose ball from 25m out to the high corner of the goal and beyond the reaches of Elauria.

The Filipinas gave them a hard time in the second half, but never came close to reducing the gap until the 51th minute when they got a goal through a set-piece.

Arantxa Mari Alvez Trebol headed home at the back post Velez's right-wing corner to keep the Philippines' hopes of a comeback alive. This produced a dramatic end to the match in which both teams swarmed forwards for their necessary goal.

The loss forced Philippines to settle for second place, but it was still a successful tournament for them as they beat Myanmar for the first time and the home team Viet Nam on their way to the final.

In the last minute of the match, Trebol missed a gold chance to equalise the match when she had only keeper Wararat Nanongtum to beat. With an open goal, she sent the ball licking the upperside of the crossbar.

In the previous third-placed play-off, Viet Nam beat Myanmar 3-1 thanks to goals from Tran Thi Hai Linh in the early part of the first period, Pham Dieu Linh and Pham Thi Lan Anh in the second period, to occupy the third position.

Myanmar's consolation goal was an excellent goal scored by winger Htet Htet Cho from a very narrow angle in the right flank. — VNS