In the opening game of the Asian Cup Group F, Thailand clinched a win over Kyrgyzstan on a Tuesday night match in Qatar. Leading the charge for the victory was striker Supachai Chaided of Buriram United, who scored twice – his initial goal 26 minutes into the match and a follow-up shortly after the second half began at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
This victory represents the first competitive success under the guidance of Coach Masatada Ishii. Despite being the lowest-ranked team in a group that also features former champions Saudi Arabia and Oman, critics said team Thailand’s performance against the higher-ranked Kyrgyzstan was commendable.
Thailand’s next challenge in Group F will be a match against Oman, scheduled for Sunday (Jan 21). Prior to their triumphant victory, Ishii rallied the “War Elephants” with a call to arms, urging them to unleash their full force and support one another on the field – a strategy the Japanese coach said paid off in the team’s latest win. (NNT)
