Aug 15 (Reuters) - Thailand will take a 3-1 lead into the second leg of their ASEAN Championship semi-final against Singapore after Teerasak Poeiphimai scored twice on Saturday to give Anthony Hudson's visitors the upper hand ahead of the return in Bangkok.
Teerasak steered home the opener in the 14th minute and added the second 12 minutes later when he emerged unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box to head in Waris Choolthong's cross from the right.
Singapore's Shawal Anuar saw his 35th-minute penalty saved by goalkeeper Kampon Pathomakkakul and, six minutes after the interval, Seksan Ratree tapped in Thailand's third from close range after Patrik Gustavsson's cross from the left.
Ilhan Fandi scored with a curling strike that beat Kampon via the inside of his left post with six minutes remaining to give Singapore a glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg at Rajamangala Stadium on Tuesday.
The first leg of the second semi-final will be played on Sunday when Malaysia host defending champions Vietnam, with the return fixture to be held in Hanoi on Wednesday.
The two-legged final will be played on August 22 and 26.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Ken Ferris)
