After a last-gasp goal by skipper Chenrop Samphaodi steered Thailand into the 2017 SEA Games men's football final yesterday, team manager Watanya Wongopasi pleaded with her players to focus on the gold medal showdown and not the anticipated bonuses.
The semi-final against Myanmar looked set to go into extra-time when Chenrop headed home a chip from the left from Suriya Singmui during the six-minute second-half injury time.
Thailand also beat Myanmar in the final of the 2015 Games.
Thailand, the two-time defending champions, will face the winners of the other semi-final between hosts Malaysia and Indonesia.
Watanya claimed that the team's march into the final of Kuala Lumpur 2017 had left every member of the squad feeling "drained".
She said: "Obviously we are happy to have reached the final as we can now start thinking of winning the targeted gold medal. But it has been a tough journey so far. We have played some tough matches and obviously everyone is exhausted."
Watanya added: "Our players have done a great job and they will be rewarded for sure. But the time to think of bonuses hasn't come yet.
"At this moment, I really want them to concentrate only on the last match, which happens to be the most important match of the tournament."
Thailand men's U22 team coach Worrawoot Srimaka said he was so stressed out that he had completely lost the sense of time towards the end of the semi-final.
"When Chenrop scored the goal and gave us the lead, I thought there were 15 minutes left. I was so immersed in the game and worried," said Worrawoot.
"I only realised that we needed to hang in there for only another minute when a staff coach told me that the match is about to end."
Worrawut added: "Our team has improved with every match. We didn't bring the best players here, but opted to pick the fittest ones.
"I told the players to play for the three FAT [Football Association of Thailand] officials who passed away on Friday morning. This win is to honour the three who died in a car accident.
"If we win the gold medal, it will be a big gift for the Thai people. We will try our best to bring our campaign to a successful end. This is the only way to prove to everyone that we have been working hard."
Worrawoot also thanked FAT president Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang and the Thai media for supporting the team through tough times.
Thailand made two changes to the side which beat Vietnam 3-0 in their last Group B on Thursday, sending in Nattawut Sombatyotha and Chaiyawat Buran.
But Myanmar started off well and relentlessly attacked the Thai team. Their impressive pressing game also forced the Thais to be on the back foot throughout the first half.
The War Elephants recovered after the break and created several opportunities but their scoring woes continued.
The Thais were dominant in the late stages of the match when Myanmar players were mostly pinned to their own half.
The celebration finally broke out in injury time when Chenrop, who had been goalless until Thursday's victory over Vietnam, picked up his second goal of the tournament.