Southeast Asian powerhouses and multiple time AFF Cup winners Thailand began their 2023 Asian Cup campaign in style, defeating Kyrgyzstan 2-0 in Group F at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium here tonight.
Supachai Chaided, a Buriram United striker, was the team’s hero tonight, scoring both Thailand’s goals, one in each half.
Both sides, meeting in the Asian Cup for the first time, began cautiously, but Thailand drew first blood in the 14th minute, when Supachok Sarachat rattled the crossbar.
Thailand, seven-time AFF Cup winners, opened the deadlock in the 26th minute with Chaided’s close-range drive beating Erzhan Tokotayev in goal for a 1-0 first-half advantage.
The side, coached by Masatada Ishii of Japan, immediately gained confidence in the second half, and only five minutes later, Supachai Chaided, a thorn in Kyrgyzstan’s defence, seized on another opportunity to score his second of the night.
Thailand will next face Oman, with Kyrgyzstan facing Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
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