View source for Thailand 3-2 Indonesia (partially found footage of 1998 Tiger Cup Group A football match; 1998)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=Thailand 3-2 Indonesia (1998 Tiger Cup Group A game)</center>
|image=Thailand3-2indonesia1.png
|imagecaption=Indonesia's Mursyid Effendi about to deliberately score an own goal.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
On 31st August 1998, '''Thailand and Indonesia played a 1998 Tiger Cup Group A game at the Thống Nhất Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam'''. Occurring in front of 5,000, the game became one of the most controversial in Tiger Cup history after both sides deliberately played poorly so they could avoid facing Vietnam in the Semi-Finals. This culminated in Indonesia's Mursyid Effendi infamously scoring an own goal in added time to force a 3-2 Thailand victory.

==Background==
Thailand had entered the competition as the defending champions after defeating Malaysia 1-0 in the 1996 Tiger Cup Final, while Indonesia were looking to build upon their fourth place at the same tournament.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asean96.html ''RSSSF'' detailing the 1996 Tiger Cup.] Retrieved 25th Apr '23</ref> Both were placed in Group A of the 1998 Tiger Cup along with Myanmar and Philippines.<ref name="results">[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asean98-det.html ''RSSSF'' detailing the results of the 1998 Tiger Cup.] Retrieved 25th Apr '23</ref><ref name="elephant">[https://voi.id/en/memori/119326 ''VOI'' detailing the elephant football scandal and how it led to Anas resigning.] Retrieved 25th Apr '23</ref> Meanwhile, hosts Vietnam entered Group By with Malaysia, Laos, and Singapore.<ref name="results"/> Aside from having the home advantage, Vietnam's team was considered among the strongest within the tournament.<ref name="soccer">[http://soccerfootballwhatever.blogspot.com/2015/12/indonesia.html ''Soccer, Football or Whatever'' summarising the match and controversy.] Retrieved 25th Apr '23</ref><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/>

In Group A, Indonesia defeated Philippines 3-0, while Thailand were held to a 1-1 draw by Myanmar.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> The defending champions then recovered to beat Philippines 3-1, as Indonesia thrashed Myanmar 6-2.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> After Myanmar overcame Philippines by a 5-2 margin earlier on 31st August, Thailand soon learned that advancing simply meant avoiding losing by at least four goals.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/05/sports/plus-soccer-indonesia-and-thailand-fined.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on both teams being fined $40,000 by the ASEAN Football Federation.] Retrieved 25th Apr '23</ref><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> Meanwhile, Indonesia was already assured qualification, and only required a draw to top the group.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="results"/>

However, tensions were brewing among both teams after learning about Group B's outcomes.<ref name="goal">[https://www.goal.com/en/news/flash-back-aff-championship-1998/m70g3v8rqlkj193t2x553946w ''Goal'' summarising Group B, Group A's controversial final match, and the aftermath.] Retrieved 25th Apr '23</ref><ref name="tournament">[http://web.archive.org/web/20160303211316/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2012/11/14/3485773/aff-cup-1998-lions-roar-to-victory-in-vietnam Archived ''Goal'' summarising the tournament.] Retrieved 25th Apr '23</ref><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="elephant"/> Vietnam and Singapore overcame opening opponents Laos and Malaysia by a 4-1 and 2-0 margin respectively.<ref name="goal"/><ref name="results"/> They then played to a goalless draw, before Vietnam defeated Malaysia 1-0 on 30th August.<ref name="goal"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="soccer"/> However, Singapore beat Laos 4-1 that same day, meaning they topped the group over Vietnam by virtue of goal difference.<ref name="goal"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> This caused concern among both Indonesia and Thailand, because the sides felt Vietnam was the superior opposition.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="goal"/> Additionally, the match with Vietnam would also take place at Hanoi Stadium on National Day, further bolstering the country's home advantage.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="elephant"/> Thus, finishing second in Group A was seemingly viewed as a blessing-in-disguise, triggering a farcical final match.<ref name="goal"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="tournament"/>

==The Match==
The encounter occurred on 31st August with 5,000 in-attendance.<ref name="soccer"/><ref name="results"/> Alas, the initially-excited crowd soon became aghast as both Thailand and Indonesia were apathetic during the first-half, with hardly any challenges being made.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="goal"/> Further signs neither team took the game seriously involved strange formations of key players. It was also reported that not once was the referee Lu Jun forced to blow his whistle prior to half-time.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Upset with the scenes, most fans left the Thống Nhất Stadium after 15 minutes.<ref name="nyt"/>

Things did pick up in the second-half, following match officials reprimanding the team coaches to increase their sides' efforts.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="goal"/> Indonesia's Mirobaldo Bento broke the deadlock 53 minutes in, capitalising on a long shot being deflected into his path by a Thailand defender.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> Thailand would equalise nine minutes later following a Kritsada Piandit strike.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> After 83 minutes, Indonesia's Aji Santoso received a pass in the centre of Thailand's box, beating four defenders to put his side 2-1 ahead.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> Therdsak Chaiman quickly equalised, though reports speculated he was not intending to score.<ref name="tournament"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> 

This culminated in the game's most memorable and controversial moment.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="goal"/> After 90 minutes, Indonesia defender Mursyid Effendi received a pass from a fellow player deep into his own side's box. With no Thailand opposition nearby, he then proceeded to fire the ball directly into the net, scoring an own goal.<ref name="soccer"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> With Thailand now 3-2 in front, the defending champions desperately began attempting to score their own own-goal, but efforts proved futile as they "won" 3-2.<ref name="soccer"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> Thus, they would play Vietnam in the Semi-Finals on 3rd September 1998, while Indonesia contended the supposedly easier opposition in Singapore.<ref name="goal"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="results"/> In front of 25,000, Thailand were dominated 3-0 by the hosts.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="results"/> However, Indonesia's campaign ended at the same hurdle, losing 2-1 to Singapore on the same day.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="results"/> A rematch for Third Place saw a 3-3 draw, before Indonesia won a 5-4 shootout.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="results"/> Ultimately, Indonesia and Thailand's concerns over Vietnam proved unfounded, for Singapore defeated the hosts 1-0 in the Final to clinch their first Tiger Cup and international trophy in general.<ref name="tournament"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="results"/>

The Group A result triggered scorn by observers, with outraged Vietnam fans protesting at the Kimbo Hotel where Indonesia was residing at.<ref name="elephant"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="soccer"/> It prompted an ASEAN Football Federation investigation into unsportsmanlike conduct.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="elephant"/><ref name="soccer"/><ref name="tournament"/> Indonesia's Hartono later revealed his team discussed throwing the Thailand game to avoid playing Vietnam, but had assumed his side was joking.<ref name="elephant"/> He recalled that no plans for scoring an own-goal were discussed.<ref name="elephant"/> On 4th September, ASEAN announced they would fine both teams $40,000, the maximum possible penalty, for deliberately not attempting to win the encounter and subsequently bringing the game into disrepute.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="tournament"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="soccer"/> Additionally, Effendi received a lifetime international football and a one year domestic football ban for his role in the scandal.<ref name="tournament"/><ref name="goal"/><ref name="soccer"/> The controversy led to Azwar Anas resigning as General Chairman of PSSI, stating that his team's act of playing "elephant football" or putting in a farcical performance was akin to betraying the country.<ref name="elephant"/>

==Availability==
Because of the game's immediate notoriety, highlights were shown on television programmes including the BBC's ''Football Focus'', confirming that the match was fully filmed. Aside from the ''Football Focus'' report, footage of all five goals is also available to view on YouTube. However, no other footage is publicly available, and it is unclear regarding the uncut tape's survival status. 

==Gallery==
===Videos===
{{Video|perrow  =3
  |service1     =youtube
  |id1          =zokUPp_nj_c
  |description1 =Footage of all five goals.
  |service2     =youtube
  |id2          =5vxMaEMKzEM
  |description2 =''Football Focus'' reporting on the match.
  |service3     =youtube
  |id3          =Hhq3OdTef0M
  |description3 =More highlights from the match.
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]