Patrik Gustavsson’s goal minutes before half-time secured Thailand a 1-0 victory over Sri Lanka in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group D tie at the Rajamangala Stadium.
The game started at pace in front of over 17,000 vociferous Thai fans. They were nearly rewarded in the 3rd minute when Supachok Sarachat broke free down the left but Sujan Perera got a finger-tip to his low cross into the box before the defense cleared the danger.
Just over 10 minutes in, Sri Lanka nearly found the opener, only for Sam Durrant to volley the ball straight at Patiwat Khammai off a Adhavan Rajamohan layoff.
In a physical 1st half, majority of Thailand’s attacks came down the left while Sri Lanka were not able to capitalize on multiple free-kicks they got. Durrant and Wade Dekker got yellow cards within minutes of each other for dangerous tackles and were fortunate not to have been shown a red by Zhang Lei.
Sri Lanka defense looked composed but at times were made to scramble by the crisp attacking from the hosts. Two minutes before half time, an error of judgement from captain Sujan Perera allowed Thailand to take the lead
Initially, Claudio Kammerknecht’s outstretched leg intercepted a cross intended for Suphanat Mueanta and when Perera tried to collect the ball in the air it was Mueanta who rose highest and got a header to it inside the 6-yard box and Gustavsson was on-hand to tap it in from close range amidst appeals for a foul on Perera.
The appeals boiled over near the touch line as Sri Lanka head coach Abdullah Al Mutairi was shown a red card for confronting the assistant referee.
Half Time: Thailand 1 – 0 Sri Lanka
In the 2nd half, Sri Lanka were ragged in defense opening up multiple scoring opportunities for the hosts. However, poor finishing, the woodwork and some brilliant saves from Perera denied any goals.
Mueanta’s strike from the edge of the box bounced off the up-right before the defense cleared the ball and substitute Teerasak Poeiphimai fired wide from an angle, while another one on one chance went begging with just the goalkeeper to beat.
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Sujan Perera made up for the mistake in the first half with two brilliant saves in the 72nd and 74th minutes. The first of which, an airborne Perera was forced to tip a Mueanta strike over the crossbar while he saved the other again from Mueanta with his leg.
Frantic moments kept on coming minutes later, when Perera again had to come way out of his line to clear the ball, which he didn’t. This allowed an opportunity for Thailand but the defense rallied back to thwart the attack.
In the final ten minutes Jason Thayaparan’s sliding block denied Nicholas Mickelson and Mueanta’s near post glancing header, from a corner, was once again slapped away by Perera.
Through all the danger they faced at the back, in a commendable performance Sri Lanka pushed for an equalizer till the final seconds, though it never materialized.
Full Time: Thailand 1 – 0 Sri Lanka
Match Summary
Goal Scorers
Thailand – Patrik Gustavsson 43’
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