Taiwan were defeated by Thailand in their FIFA 2018 World Cup Asian qualifiers Group F opener in Taipei yesterday, as the visitors made it two wins out of two at the start of their campaign.
At a more than three-quarters full Taipei Municipal Stadium, with a large contingent of away supporters, many who turned up at 5pm before the stadium had opened, both sides got off to a cagey start, with the first effort on goal coming from Taiwan’s Xavier Chen from long range in the 10th minute.
The visitors soon began to take control of the game and Anon Pokkhao hit the post following a defensive error by the hosts in the 14th minute.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
Teerasil Dangda put the visitors in front in the 21st minute when a long ball completely split the Taiwan defense and the nimble striker fired past goalkeeper Lu Kun-chi and into the top-left corner.
Taiwan’s Onur Dogan fashioned a chance for the hosts in the 34th minute, but he could not beat the goalkeeper, before an almost identical move saw Dangda score his second five minutes later.
Once again a long pass completely bypassed the Taiwan defense and the striker lifted over the outrushing Lu to double the visitors lead.
Taiwan came out after the break and took the game to the visitors, with Chen Hao-wei causing problems for the Thailand defenders, but it was the visitors who created the first good opportunity, Lu doing well to push Adul Lahso’s shot over the bar.
Chen Hao-wei forced a save from Thailand goalkeeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattankool in the 73rd minute and then hit the side-netting three minutes later as the hosts looked for a way back into the match.
Dangda had a chance to complete his hat-trick in the 86th minute, but the Taiwan defense did well to keep the shot out, before Hathairattankool saved Chen Hao-wei’s shot in the 90th minute, the hosts’ best chance of the match.
“Our players did their best, there were some mistakes due to a lack of concentration and we let in two goals. We have room to improve. I will remind the players to not to make those mistakes in the upcoming games,” Taiwan head coach Chen Kuei-jen said.
“It was a good game, both teams played well and we were lucky to get the two goals in the first half. We feel good, but we had luck taking the three points back to Thailand,” Thailand coach Kiatisuk Senamuang said.
Taiwan next take on group favorites Iraq away on Sept. 3, before hosting Vietnam at the Taipei Municipal Stadium five days later. They then travel to Thailand on Nov. 12, before hosting Iraq at the National Stadium in Kaohsiung five days later.
Taiwan’s final Group F match sees them visit Vietnam on March 24 next year.
The group winners and the four best runners-up advance to the final qualifying round for the World Cup finals to be hosted by Russia in 2018.
Additional reporting by Jason Pan
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