War Elephants on verge of Asian Cup last 16
THAILAND COACH MAsatada Ishii said he was “really happy” with a point after his side held a blunt Oman 0-0 last Sunday (Jan 21) to inch closer to the knockout rounds of the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar.
Sunday’s draw followed a 2-0 win for the War Elephants in their opening game against Kyrgyzstan on Jan 16.
It left Ishii’s men in second place on four points in Group F behind former tournament champions Saudi Arabia, who they were set to face last night (Jan 25).
The Saudis have already qualified for the next round after wins against Kyrgyzstan and Oman and, at time of press, Thailand stood every chance of progressing with them.
Qualification for the Thais would be all the more impressive given they are the lowest ranked team in Group F.
Last Sunday saw a lively first half in Doha, with Oman seeking to apply pressure after the break, but finding no way through the stubborn Thai defence.
When the final whistle sounded, Thailand’s players celebrated and their Japanese coach was more than happy.
“When we went into this match we wanted three points, but as the game went by, we saw what can be done,” said Ishii. “We are really happy with one point.”
Oman coach Branko Ivanovic acknowledged that “the Thai team was very cohesive”, adding that “it was difficult to create opportunities to score”.
Thailand’s Group F opener against Kyrgyzstan on Jan 16 saw Supachai Chaided score both goals as the War Elephants registered their first ever win over their higher-ranked opponents.
Thailand led 1-0 when the Buriram United forward netted the first goal on 26 minutes, adding a second three minutes into the second half at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
The victory was also significant as it was Ishii's first with Thailand in a competitive match since he was appointed in the role of coach by the Football Association of Thailand on Dec 12 last year.