Alkass Digital
Al Wakrah: Thailand got off to a dream start in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ after they produced a 2-0 victory against Iraq in their Group C tie at the Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday.
A clinical performance from Ithsara Sritharo’s charges saw them net once in each half to secure a stunning result, which was also their first ever success against Iraq at U23 level having lost three of their previous six encounters to date.
In the second meeting between these two teams in Finals history, it was Iraq who asserted themselves early on and registered the first shot on target through Zaid Tahseen’s long-range free-kick, but it was straight at Thai custodian Soponwit Rakyart.
The Southeast Asians soon grew into the game though with Seksan Ratree's attempt before Purachat Thodsanit’s weak effort was fielded by Iraqi goalkeeper Hussein Hasan.
Chances continue to flow with Iraq next to threaten when Salim Ahmed thrashed a left-footed strike over after being slipped in by Muntadher Abdulameer’s pass on 22 minutes.
Four minutes later, the deadlock was broken. Erawan Garnier, the 18-year-old Olympique Lyonnais player who had been lively in his Thai age-group debut, popped up on the left to deliver a perfect cross that was met by right-back Waris Choolthong, who ghosted in to produce a calm first-time finish past Hasan.
The well-worked opener galvanised Iraq and Zaid Ismael stabbed a loose ball over following a corner, before captain Tahseen headed a decent opportunity wide from another corner.
Radhi Shenaishil then brought on full internationals Ali Jasim and Muntadher Mohammed just past the half-hour mark, joining senior-capped Tahseen and Mustafa Saadoun on the pitch as Iraq sought an equaliser.
Jasim nearly provided it, cutting in from the left beating three players only to drill a tame shot at Soponwit as his side trailed at the break.
Determined to find a way back into the game, the West Asians then sent on Amin Al-Hamawi after the restart to join Nihad Mohammed upfront as they turned up the pressure.
Al-Hamawi looked set to put Iraq level in the 59th minute when he met Jasim’s cut-back, but a brilliant last-ditch block from left-back Warinthon Jamnongwat preserved the Thais’ lead.
Two minutes later, Soponwit conjured a stunning save to palm away Jasim’s free-kick, which had taken a deflection and seemed like it would beat the wrongfooted custodian.
Those spurned opportunities would once again haunt Iraq as they fell further behind in the 65th minute. Turning provider, Waris curled in a perfect corner from the right that was met by half-time substitute Teerasak Poeiphimai, who guided his header into the far left of the goal.
It got worse for the Iraqis on 72 minutes when Nihad Mohammed, booked in the first half, received a second caution to leave his team a player down and put paid to the 2013 champions’ hopes of salvaging a result.