Thailand edged closer to the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup with a 0-0 draw against Oman on Sunday night (Jan 21), bolstering the team’s standing after a win over Kyrgyzstan last Tuesday. The War Elephants, under the guidance of coach Masatada Ishii, are now preparing for their upcoming match against Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Sticking with the same successful lineup from the Kyrgyzstan match, Ishii’s team managed a sturdy defense against Oman in Dubai. This strategic move places Thailand at four points from two games, while Oman holds one point. Saudi Arabia, having defeated Kyrgyzstan 2-0, leads the group with six points.
In the match between Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan’s Aizar Akmatov was sent off early for a high boot. Saudi Arabia capitalized on their one-man advantage, with Mohamed Kanno scoring in the 35th minute. The situation worsened for Kyrgyzstan when Kimi Merk was also dismissed after a VAR review for a reckless challenge.
Despite their defensive efforts, Kyrgyzstan could not hold back Saudi Arabia, who doubled their lead late in the game with Faisal Al-Ghamdi’s goal, ensuring a solid victory and a strong position in the group. (NNT)
