By Les Tan/Red Sports

sea games

Indonesia defending against a Singapore (red) corner at the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta. Singapore lost this particular match 0-2. Although the Young Lions went on to beat Thailand 2-0 in their final group game, they did not qualify for the semi-finals. Indonesia and Malaysia qualified at their expense. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images for SSC)

Medals have always been the natural and obvious measure of success at the South-east Asian (SEA) Games. Since the SEA Games football tournament was made an under-23 competition in 2001, Singapore have won two bronze medals. Thailand (four) and Malaysia (two) between them have swept all the gold since 2001.

However, beyond the medals, when we look at the cumulative statistics since then, other interesting nuggets of information come through.

BEST WIN-DRAW-LOSE RECORD
Singapore have the fifth best record at U-23 level. They raked up 11 wins, 6 draws, 8 losses (11-6-8) for a winning percentage of 44% (number of matches won divided by number of matches played).

Only three countries have a winning record (i.e. above 50%) since 2001 — Thailand (23-2-4; 79%), Malaysia (19-4-6; 63%) and Vietnam (17-3-12; 53%).

It will take some doing for any SEA country to match the Thais’ record, unless the Thais continue to display the same bad form they did in the 2011 SEA Games.

Vietnam’s record is remarkable for the fact that they still managed a winning percentage despite losing so many matches. Thankfully, from the point of view of neutrals, the Vietnamese don’t seem to believe too much in the virtue of draws.

SCORING RECORD
If you’ve had the niggling feeling that Singapore seem to have problems scoring, the numbers bear that out. Singapore have scored on average just 1.6 goals per game. In contrast, Thailand (2.8), Malaysia (2.5) and Vietnam (2.1) are much more ruthless in front of goal.

Any game involving Singapore has also generally a low-scoring affair, with only an average of 2.7 goals from either end. Only games involving Indonesia (2.6) have a lower average.

If you are a football neutral and just want to watch a game with plenty of goals, Vietnam is your team. Any SEA Games match involving them averaged 3.6 goals from both ends because the Vietnamese were not only a high-scoring team, they also leaked a lot of goals at the back. That’s fun for everyone to watch, except perhaps for their coach on the day.

Thailand and Malaysia are not that far behind. Any match involving either of them had an average of 3.5 goals per game.

You can also put Cambodia and Timor Leste on your list of high-scoring matches to watch, but not because of their scoring prowess. Both these countries leaked an average of four goals per game and opposing teams were probably thrilled to bits to get either country in their group after the draw.

TOP 4 RECORD
If success — and consistency — is measured by the ability to reach the semi-final stage, then Malaysia and Vietnam are tops. Both have qualified for the knockout stage five times each since 2001, while Thailand have done it four times.

Singapore have only appeared twice in the semi-finals while Myanmar have managed one better in the same period.

However, remarkably, for each of the four time the Thais did reach the semis, they also moved on to the final and won it.

The Vietnamese have suffered the most heartbreak. Out of the five times they qualified for the semi-finals, they made the final three times. And then lost all three. (Ouch.)

THAILAND — BEST RECORD
The statistics show that the Thais are in a class of their own since 2001, even though they have not qualified for the semi-finals at the last two SEA Games.

Apart from their SEA-leading 23-2-4 record, they have the best goal scoring record, registering 2.8 goals per game. Also, scoring against them has been notoriously difficult. They leaked an average of only 0.7 goals per game. They qualified for and won four straight SEA Games finals from 2001 to 2007.

However, they had a truly lousy 2011 SEA Games by their own high standards. Their three defeats in Jakarta at the 2011 SEA Games was a shocker because before 2011, they had only lost one match outright (a 1-2 loss to Malaysia at the group stage in 2009).

It will be interesting to see if they can retain their lost air of invincibility at SEA level.

CONCLUSION
You can divide all 12 SEA countries into three basic groups — powerhouses, middle-of-the-roaders, wooden spoonists.

Thailand (23-2-4; 79%), Malaysia (19-4-6; 63%) and Vietnam (17-3-12; 53%), in that order, are SEA powerhouses based on their winning records.

The middle-of-the-roaders don’t break 50%. This group is led by Myanmar (12-6-7; 46%), with Singapore (11-6-8; 44%) and Indonesia (10-5-11; 38%) following closely behind.

Laos (4-4-16; 17%) and Cambodia (1-1-19; 5%) are the wooden spoonists, with the latter threatening to create a whole new (lower) category of their own with such an abysmal record.

Philippines (2-0-6; 25%), Timor Leste (2-0-7; 22%) and Brunei (1-1-6; 13%) have played a lot fewer matches and so they aren’t included in the reckoning for now. Their records, though, don’t seem to suggest they will do much better than Laos at SEA level.

N.B. If other interesting statistical bits strike you, please feel free to share in the comments section below. It will add to our collective knowledge.

SEA Games Top 4 (2001-2011)

SF = Semi-Final. F = Final. Top 4 = made it to semi-final. Top 2 = made it to final. G = Gold medal. S = Silver medal. B = Bronze medal.
010103030505070709091111Top 4Top 2GSB
SFFSFFSFFSFFSFFSFF
Thailand444
Malaysia53212
Vietnam533
Indonesia211
Singapore202
Myanmar3122
Laos10

SEA Games Football Stats (2001-2011)

T = Total number of goals in games involving that country. W % = % of games won. L % = % of games lost. GFA = Goals For Average or average number of goals scored per game; GAA = Goals Against Average or average number of goals conceded per game. TPG = Average number of total goals per game. Cumulative stats includes semi-final, 3rd/4th and final matches. Matches that go to penalty kicks are considered draws. Penalty kick shootout goals are not considered.
2001-2011PWDLFATW %L %GFAGAATPG
Thailand292324811910079142.80.73.5
Malaysia3019
46762910563202.51.03.5
Vietnam3217312664711353382.11.53.6
Myanmar26126749267546271.91.02.9
Singapore2511
6840286844321.61.12.7
Indonesia261051140296938421.51.12.6
Philippines820612213325751.52.64.1
Timor Leste92075364122780.64.04.6
Laos24441623547717671.02.33.3
Brunei81166364213750.84.55.3
Cambodia2111191481955900.73.94.6
2011
Group APWDLFA
Malaysia431072
Indonesia4301112
Singapore421143
Thailand410367
Cambodia4004216
Group BPWDLFA
Vietnam5410162
Myanmar5410132
Timor Leste520348
Laos5113109
Brunei5113517
Philippines5104614
2009
Group APWDLFA
Vietnam4310143
Malaysia4301184
Thailand4211153
Cambodia4103515
Timor Leste4004128
Group BPWDLFA
Laos312031
Singapore312043
Myanmar311154
Indonesia301237
2007
Group APWDLFA
Thailand3300133
Myanmar311185
Indonesia311143
Cambodia3003317
Group BPWDLFA
Vietnam320175
Singapore312054
Malaysia311164
Laos301216
2005
Group APWDLFA
Thailand330041
Malaysia3201104
Philippines310267
Cambodia3003210
Group BPWDLFA
Vietnam4301114
Indonesia422050
Singapore421132
Laos4103515
Myanmar401325
2003
Group APWDLFA
Thailand3210131
Vietnam321031
Indonesia310217
Laos300308
Group BPWDLFA
Malaysia3300133
Myanmar3200103
Singapore310255
Cambodia3003219
2001
Group APWDLFA
Thailand4400121
Myanmar421174
Singapore4202103
Laos410329
Cambodia4013014
Group BPWDLFA
Malaysia330091
Indonesia3201112
Vietnam310254
Brunei3003119

SEA Games Football Results (2001-2013)

Since 2001, the SEA Games football tournament has been an Under-23 event.
DATE
2013
Dec 21FinalThailandIndonesia
Dec 213rd/4thSingaporeMalaysia
Dec 19Semi-FinalThailand1Singapore0
Dec 19Semi-FinalMalaysia1(4)Indonesia1(5)
Dec 17Group ALaos3Brunei2
Dec 17Group AMalaysia2Vietnam1
Dec 16Group BThailand0Cambodia0
Dec 16Group BIndonesia1Myanmar0
Dec 15Group ALaos0Vietnam5
Dec 15Group ASingapore1Malaysia1
Dec 14 Group BThailand1Myanmar1
Dec 14Group BTimor Leste0Indonesia0
Dec 13Group ABrunei0Singapore2
Dec 13Group AMalaysia4Laos1
Dec 12Group BCambodia2Timor Leste3
Dec 12Group BIndonesia1Thailand4
Dec 10Group AVietnam0Singapore1
Dec 10Group ABrunei0Malaysia2
Dec 9Group BMyanmar3Timor Leste1
Dec 9Group BCambodia0Indonesia1
Dec 8Group ASingapore1Laos1
Dec 8Group AVietnam7Brunei0
Dec 7Group BMyanmar3Cambodi0
Dec 7Group BTimor Leste1Thailand3
2011
Nov 21FinalMalaysia1 (4)Indonesia1 (3)
Nov 213rd/4thMyanmar4Vietnam1
Nov 19Semi-FinalMalaysia1Myanmar0
Nov 19Semi-FinalVietnam0Indonesia2
Nov 17Group AThailand0Singapore2
Nov 17Group AIndonesia0Malaysia1
Nov 13Group AMalaysia4Cambodia1
Nov 13Group AIndonesia3Thailand1
Nov 11Group ASingapore0Indonesia2
Nov 11Group AThailand4Cambodia0
Nov 9Group AMalaysia2Thailand1
Nov 9Group ACambodia1Singapore2
Nov 7Group ASingapore0Malaysia0
Nov 7Group AIndonesia6Cambodia0
Nov 17Group BLaos1Vietnam3
Nov 15Group BMyanmar1Timor Leste0
Nov 15Group BPhilippines1Brunei2
Nov 13Group BPhilippines0Myanmar5
Nov 13Group BTimor Leste0Laos3
Nov 11Group BPhilippines3Laos2
Nov 12Group BBrunei0Vietnam8
Nov 9Group BMyanmar4Brunei0
Nov 9Group BVietnam2Timor Leste0
Nov 7Group BTimor Leste2Philippines2
Nov 7Group BLaos2Brunei2
Nov 5Group BBrunei1Timor Leste2
Nov 5Group BMyanmar0Vietnam0
Nov 3Group BVietnam3Philippines1
Nov 3Group BLaos2Myanmar3
2009
Dec 17FinalVietnam0Malaysia1
Dec 173rd/4thSingapore3Laos1
Dec 14Semi-FinalVietnam4Singapore1
Dec 14Semi-FinalLaos1Malaysia3
Dec 11Group ACambodia1Vietnam6
Dec 11Group AMalaysia2Thailand1
Dec 8Group ATimor Leste0Thailand9
Dec 8Group ACambodia0Malaysia4
Dec 6Group AVietnam3Malaysia1
Dec 6Group ATimor Leste1Cambodia4
Dec 4Group AThailand4Cambodia0
Dec 4Group AVietnam4Timor Leste0
Dec 2Group AMalaysia11Timor Leste0
Dec 2Group AThailand1Vietnam1
Dec 10Group BMyanmar3Indonesia1
Dec 10Group BLaos0Singapore0
Dec 7Group BMyanmar1Singapore2
Dec 7Group BIndonesia0Laos2
Dec 5Group BSingapore2Indonesia2
Dec 5Group BLaos1Myanmar1
2007
Dec 14FinalMyanmar0Thailand2
Dec 143rd/4thVietnam0Singapore5
Dec 11Semi-FinalThailand3Singapore0
Dec 11Semi-FinalVietnam0 (1)Myanmar0 (3)
Dec 7Group AMyanmar6Cambdodia2
Dec 7Group AThailand2Indonesia1
Dec 4Group AIndonesia0Myanmar0
Dec 4Group ACambodia0Thailand8
Dec 2Group AMyanmar2Thailand3
Dec 2Group AIndonesia3Cambodia1
Dec 8Group BLaos1Vietnam2
Dec 8Group BMalaysia1Singapore1
Dec 3Group BMalaysia4Laos0
Dec 3Group BSingapore3Vietnam2
Dec 1Group BSingapore0Laos0
Dec 1Group BVietnam3Malaysia1
2005
Dec 4FinalThailand3Vietnam0
Dec 43rd/4thMalaysia1Indonesia0
Dec 2Semi-FinalVietnam2Malaysia1
Dec 2Semi-FinalThailand3Indonesia1
Nov 29Group APhilippines2Malaysia4
Nov 29Group ACambodia0Thailand1
Nov 27Group AThailand2Malaysia1
Nov 25Group APhilippines4Cambodia2
Nov 23Group APhilippines0Thailand1
Nov 21Group AMalaysia5Cambodia0
Nov 26Group BVietnam0Indonesia1
Nov 26Group BLaos0Singapore1
Nov 24Group BSingapore0Indonesia0
Nov 24Group BMyanmar0Vietnam1
Nov 22Group BLaos2Vietnam8
Nov 22Group BIndonesia0Myanmar0
Nov 20Group BMyanmar2Laos3
Nov 20Group BVietnam2Singapore1
2003
Dec 12FinalThailand 2Vietnam1
Dec 123rd/4thMalaysia1 (4)Myanmar1 (2)
Dec 9Semi-FinalVietnam4Malaysia3
Dec 9Semi-FinalThailand2Myanmar0
Dec 7Group AIndonesia0Thailand6
Dec 7Group AVietnam1Laos0
Dec 4Group AVietnam1Indonesia0
Dec 4Group ALaos0Thailand6
Nov 30Group AThailand1Vietnam1
Nov 30Group AIndonesia1Laos0
Dec 6Group BCambodia1Singapore5
Dec 3Group BCambodia0Myanmar6
Dec 3Group BSingapore0Malaysia2
Nov 29Group BMyanmar2Singapore0
Nov 29Group BMalaysia8Cambodia1
2001
Sept 15FinalMalaysia0Thailand1
Sept 153rd/4thIndonesia0Myanmar1
Sept 13Semi-FinalMalaysia1Myanmar0
Sept 13Semi-FinalThailand2Indonesia1
Sept 10Group AThailand3Myanmar1
Sept 10Group ALaos2Cambodia0
Sept 7Group AThailand1Laos0
Sept 7Group AMyanmar2Singapore1
Sept 5Group ACambodia0Singapore5
Sept 5Group AMyanmar4Laos0
Sept 3Group AMyanmar0Cambodia0
Sept 3Group AThailand1Singapore0
Sept 1Group ASingapore4Laos0
Sept 1Group AThailand7Cambodia0
Sept 11Group BMalaysia2Vietnam0
Sept 6Group BIndonesia9Brunei0
Sept 4Group BVietnam5Brunei1
Sept 2Group BMalaysia5Brunei0