Thailand earn first point after 2-2 draw with Australia in WC qualifiers

With the game taking place little more than a month following the passing away of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, there were emotional scenes prior to the kickoff. Hundreds of home fans gathered outside the venue to form a shape of Thai number nine and lit candles to pay homage to the country’s longest-reigning monarch.

Inside the stadium, emotions also ran high before the match as Thai players lined up in shape of number nine during the warm-up. The two teams both wore black armbands and the players observed a minute’s silence ahead of the start of the game.

Without a point after four straight defeats in the decisive qualifying round for 2018 World Cup in Russia, home fans could have been forgiven for thinking that the Thai side would suffer the same fate when Australia went ahead after seven minutes.

Defender Prathum Chutong conceded a penalty after he was adjusted to block a shot inside the area with his arm and Australia captain Mile Jedinak made no mistake from the spot.

Rather than being deflated by early setback, the hosts regrouped and managed to fight their way back into the game when a nice passing move down the right flank culminated in striker Teerasil Dangda tucking away from point blank range at near post.  

After drawing level, the Thais opted to sit deep and waited for the opportunity to launch swift break but the two sides headed into the interval still locked at 1-1.

Ten minutes after the restart, the Thai team were awarded a penalty when captain Theerathon Bunmathan was brought down in the box and Teerasil successfully converted his spot kick to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. The Muangthong United striker’s penalty meant he scored all the three goals for his side against the Socceroos in six meetings.

The visitors, though, pulled level when Sirod Chatthong pulled Jedinak as the pair tussled in the box following the visitors’ free kick and the Australian skipper Jedinak picked himself up to fire home the game’s third penalty.

Thailand went close to scoring the winner in the closing stages but Sirod failed to beat visiting keeper after running clear towards goal.  

Thailand still lie bottom of the table with one point from five games, while Australia slipped one place to third spot on eight points. Japan climbed to the runners-up spot after beating Saudi Arabia 2-1, who they trailed only on goal difference.