The 2016 AFF Championship final was the final of the 2016 AFF Championship, the 11th edition of the top-level Southeast Asia football tournament organised by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).

The final was contested in two-legged home-and-away format between Indonesia and Thailand. The first leg was hosted by Indonesia at the Pakansari Stadium in Bogor on 14 December 2016, while the second leg was hosted by Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on 17 December 2016.

Background Based on previous records, Indonesia had reached the AFF Championship final four times (2000, 2002, 2004 and 2010), finishing runners-up in all attempts. Thailand had reached the AFF Championship final seven times (1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2014) and had won the tournament four times (1996, 2000, 2002 and 2014). The two sides last met on 7 December 2010 in the group stage of the 2010 AFF Championship. Indonesia, who began the 2016 AFF Championship as an underdog, was ranked 179 in the FIFA World Rankings and tenth among AFF teams while Thailand, who entered the tournament as a clear favorite, was ranked 146 overall and fourth among AFF teams. Thailand entered the 2016 AFF Championship as four-time ASEAN champions. Thailand was first crowned champions of ASEAN in the 1996 that was held in Singapore with a final score of 1–0 against Malaysia. In the 2000, Thailand had taken home the title through a 4–1 victory against Indonesia. In the 2002, Thailand won against Indonesia through a penalty shoot-out. In the 2007 and 2008, Thailand reached the final to meet Singapore and Vietnam but however lost in the final games. In the 2012, Thailand again failed after losing by 2–3 on aggregate against Singapore. But in the 2014, Thailand managed to return by winning 4–3 on aggregate against Malaysia. The 2016 final was Indonesia's fifth consecutive time contesting an AFF Championship final, after losing four times against Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Up until the beginning of the tournament, Indonesia had just set everything in control after a series of internal upheavals within the PSSI, which cost the country's qualification attempts for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Having just ended the crisis, Indonesia's perpetration was in total disarray and thus they had to take back their old boss, Alfred Riedl, to manage the team and fix the messes. In comparison, Thailand's perpetration was largely smooth and problem-free. Therefore, not many people even imagined Indonesia could progress to the semi-finals, leave alone winning the tournament.

Route to the final

Both Indonesia and Thailand were drawn into Group A of the 2016 AFF Championship, along with powerhouse sides Philippines and Singapore. After winning all three group matches, Thailand finished first in the group. Indonesia finished second in the group to progress to the knockout phase of the tournament. Thailand's first match victory was against Indonesia with a score of 4–2. From there, they continue the path by beating both Singapore and the Philippines by 1–0. Thailand progressed to the semi-finals to face Group B runner-up and subsequent host of Myanmar. In the first-leg in Yangon, Thailand won 2–0 before winning the second-leg in Bangkok by 4–0 with a total aggregate of 6–0. Indonesia's lose their first match against Thailand before drawing 2–2 against the host Philippines. In the third match against Singapore, they won 2–1 before progressing to the semi-finals to face Group B winner of Vietnam. In the first-leg in Bogor, Indonesia won 2–1 before drawing 2–2 in the extra time in the second-leg in Hanoi with a total aggregate of 4–3.

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). RoundOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult2–4Matchday 14–22–2Matchday 21–02–1Matchday 31–0Group A runners-up Team330062+49311167–14302123−12301213−21Final standingsGroup A winners Team330062+49311167–14302123−12301213−21OpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legKnockout phaseOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg4–32–1 (H)2–2 (A)Semi-finals6–02–0 (A)4–0 (H)

Matches First leg

GK 1 Kurnia Meiga RB 2 Beny Wahyudi CB 16 Fachrudin Aryanto CB 23 Hansamu Yama LB 3 Abduh Lestaluhu RM 21 Andik Vermansyah CM 25 Manahati Lestusen CM 19 Bayu Pradana LM 14 Rizky Pora CF 8 Stefano Lilipaly CF 7 Boaz Solossa (c) Substitutions: FW 10 Zulham Zamrun FW 12 Lerby Eliandry FW 9 Ferdinand Sinaga Manager: Alfred Riedl GK 1 Kawin Thamsatchanan RB 19 Tristan Do CB 5 Adison Promrak CB 15 Koravit Namwiset LB 3 Theerathon Bunmathan RM 14 Sarawut Masuk CM 6 Sarach Yooyen CM 21 Pokklaw Anan LM 4 Kroekrit Thaweekarn AM 18 Chanathip Songkrasin CF 10 Teerasil Dangda (c)Substitutions: DF 2 Peerapat Notchaiya FW 9 Siroch Chatthong MF 7 Charyl Chappuis Manager:Kiatisuk Senamuang

Man of the Match: Stefano Lilipaly (Indonesia)

Assistant referees: Yagi Akane (Japan) Shinji Ochi (Japan) Fourth official: Takuto Okabe (Japan)

+OverallStatisticsIndonesiaThailandGoals scored 2 1Total shots 11 11Shots on target 4 3Ball possession 39% 61%Corner kicks 3 8Fouls committed 16 10Offsides 4 2Yellow cards 0 0Red cards 0 0

Second leg

GK 1 Kawin Thamsatchanan CB 5 Adison Promrak CB 17 Tanaboon Kesarat CB 16 Pratum Chuthong RM 19 Tristan Do CM 7 Charyl Chappuis CM 6 Sarach Yooyen LM 3 Theerathon Bunmathan RF 9 Siroch Chatthong CF 10 Teerasil Dangda (c) LF 18 Chanathip Songkrasin Substitutions: MF 21 Pokklaw Anan MF 14 Sarawut Masuk MF 35 Prakit Deeprom Manager:Kiatisuk Senamuang GK 1 Kurnia Meiga RB 2 Beny Wahyudi CB 16 Fachrudin Aryanto CB 23 Hansamu Yama LB 3 Abduh Lestaluhu RM 10 Zulham Zamrun CM 25 Manahati Lestusen CM 19 Bayu Pradana LM 14 Rizky Pora CF 8 Stefano Lilipaly CF 7 Boaz Solossa (c)Substitutions: MF 11 Dedi Kusnandar FW 12 Lerby Eliandry FW 9 Ferdinand Sinaga Manager: Alfred Riedl

Man of the Match: Chanathip Songkrasin (Thailand)

Assistant referees: Ahmed Yousuf Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates) Hassan Al-Mahri (United Arab Emirates) Fourth official: Yaqoub Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

+OverallStatisticsThailandIndonesiaGoals scored 2 0Total shots 10 3Shots on target 6 0Ball possession 62% 38%Corner kicks 6 2Fouls committed 18 20Offsides 2 1Yellow cards 0 2Red cards 0 1

Thailand won 3–2 on aggregate.

References

External links AFF Suzuki Cup 2016 – Official website