Thailand is struggling
Compared to the opening match with a strong 10-0 win over Timor Leste, the match against Malaysia was much more difficult for the Thai players. Despite playing at home, in the first half the Thai team only had 2 truly dangerous opportunities. The first ball took place in the 8th minute when Suphanat dribbled the ball cleverly on the right wing before sending a reasonable cross to Gustavsson, but the Swedish-born striker deflected the ball from close range. In the 20th minute, Suphanat skillfully passed and then gave a favorable return to his teammates. However, Ratree’s shot in a very favorable position sent the ball out. After 1/3 of the first half, the Thai team completely controlled the match with 68% ball possession and 4 shots, double that of Malaysia.
The Thai team deserved a win
However, the Malaysian team still proved to be an unpleasant opponent of Thailand. They organized a tight defense and sharp counterattacks. After about 15 minutes of being completely outmatched, the Malaysian team gradually caught up with the match. They were more proactive in cutting the ball, but the decisive actions were not really sharp. The Thai team is no longer able to attack aggressively anymore.
In the second half, the Malaysian team played better in the first 10 minutes. They fought well in the midfield, causing classy midfielders like Peeradol and Weerathep on the home team to constantly lose the ball. If the Malaysian team is a little sharper, the away team can score.
However, while playing very well, the Malaysian players unfortunately conceded a goal. In the 57th minute, after a pass from his teammate, goalkeeper Nadzli cleared the ball straight into Suphanat’s feet. The Buriram United striker played very well as a team player, returning the ball back so Gustavsson could easily cushion the ball and score. This defeat made the Malaysian players’ morale drop. They no longer showed elegant play because they impatiently rushed forward to find an equalizer. In the 68th minute, the Malaysian team had a chance to level the score, but Endrick’s shot, a player playing for Ho Chi Minh City Club in the V-League, was blocked by goalkeeper Khammai with his fingertips.
On the contrary, the Thai team made two substitutions at the same time, bringing in Teerasak (striker) and Pansa (center back) to replace Gustavsson and Chalermsak. Coach Ishii had the right to replace the centre-back because Chalermsak received a yellow card and clearly showed his defensive intentions, asking his players to retreat deep into their own half. Mr. Ishii’s tactical adjustment helped the Thai team preserve the 1-0 score until the end of the match.
With this result, the Thai team regained the top spot in Group A with 6 points after 2 matches, equal to Singapore (3-0 win over Timor Leste) but better in difference.
