Thais upset Team S’pore in Asia Oceania Floorball Cup final … – TODAYonline

SINGAPORE Unbeaten over four games, the Singapore mens floorball team were just one match away from being crowned champions at the inaugural Asia Oceania Floorball Cup (AOFC) on Thursday (July 6).

Unfortunately, the Singaporeans just could not get past the final hurdle at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, as the top seeds were upset 8-4 by hosts Thailand in the final.

Gold medallists at the 2015 SEA Games, and ranked 17th in the world, Singapore were tipped to clinch the winners trophy after storming into the top two with an unbeaten record of four wins in as many matches.

Previously known as the Asia Pacific Floorball Championships, the 1st AOFC saw participation from eight teams in the region: China, Iran, the Philippines, Singapore, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand.

The tournament alternates between the mens and womens competition each year.

Drawn into Group A, the Singaporean men hammered Iran 16-0 in their first group match, before notching two more wins over China (13-0) and the Philippines (14-1).

A match-up against South Korea the second-highest-ranked team at world No 18 did little to stop the dominant Singapore side, as they routed their rivals 11-0 to march into the final against hosts Thailand.

Both teams had last met in the SEA Games mens final two years ago. Singapore won that encounter 9-0 but there would be no celebrations for the Singaporean floorball players this time.

Up against the lower-ranked Thai side (22), the Republic quickly found themselves on the back foot early in the contest, as Thai forward Jimmy Holmstrom fired in a long-range shot in the third minute to claim the lead, 1-0.

Teammate Alexander Rinefalk made it 2-0 minutes later, and while Singapore responded with a goal from Nicolas Siew in the 15th minute, the Thais claimed victory in the first period (3-1) with a late strike from Sattaya Phoosinoi.

While Team Singapore forward Tristan See added two more goals in the second period, the Thais did not relinquish their lead, closing the period at 5-3.

The third and final period was a tense affair for both teams, but the Thais finally exacted revenge for their 2015 loss, winning the match 8-4 to claim the AOFC trophy.

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Thais upset Team S'pore in Asia Oceania Floorball Cup final ... - TODAYonline