Thailand recovered from the shock of going behind after three minutes to defeat Taiwan 4-2 in their FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier in Bangkok yesterday.
Taiwan centerback Yaki Yen stunned the hosts and the crowd at the Rajamangala National Stadium by heading in a corner in the third minute, but the hosts replied four minutes before halftime when Teerasil Dangda converted a cross by Thailand skipper Theerathon Bunmathan.
Thailand then took the lead seven minutes after the break through Pokklaw Anan, but Taiwan fought back when Huang Kao-chun scored on a counterattack after 66 minutes.
Photo: EPA
However, two goals in two minutes settled the tie in the hosts favor.
Adisak Kraisorn broke to score in the 72nd minute, before Thana Chanaboot got his head to a free-kick ahead of the Taiwan defense two minutes later as the hosts moved onto 13 points at the top of the group, while Taiwan remained without a point, rooted to the bottom.
Earlier, Tim Cahill scored his 42nd international goal as Australia turned on the sparkle to fuel their FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying hopes with a 3-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in Canberra.
Photo: Lin Tsung-wei, Taipei Times
Shanghai Shenhua-based Cahill scored the second goal for Australia just after halftime following a 40th-minute penalty by skipper Mile Jedinak and the visitors were finished off by a 69th-minute own-goal by defender Ildar Amirov.
Australia moved to within one point of inactive leaders Jordan in Group B and face Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The Socceroos turned on the razzle-dazzle with their midfield of Aaron Mooy, Massimo Luongo and substitute Tom Rogic dictating the play and setting up many scoring chances.
“We had a game plan and the boys stuck to it, and maybe it could have been a little bit more at the end, but we take the victory and the three points most importantly,” Jedinak said.
Talisman Cahill went close early, striking the woodwork with a volley in the 15th minute.
Kyrgyzstan’s Viktor Maier appealed to the referee for a penalty when Preston North End defender Bailey Wright put his arm across his chest in a tussle for the ball, but it was turned down.
Mark Milligan missed an open goal after goalkeeper Pavel Matiash beat out Nathan Burns fierce shot, but Burns, who came off the bench for the injured Tomi Juric (groin) in the 29th minute, was brought down on the edge of the Kyrgyzstan penalty area moments later.
Crystal Palace’s Jedinak fired home the penalty to put Australia a goal up after 40 minutes and they had Kyrgyzstan under pressure for the remaining minutes to halftime.
The Socceroos jumped out of the blocks in the second half when Mooy put Cahill clear and the former English Premier League star finished clinically across goalkeeper Matiash into the far corner.
The contest was over for Kyrgyzstan when defender Ildar headed into his own net off a Mooy corner to put the hosts three up with 20 minutes left.
Meanwhile, FIFA yesterday approved five candidates to stand in February’s vote to replace Sepp Blatter as president of world soccer’s governing body, but Michel Platini has not yet made the list.
The five who met the qualifications following a series of integrity tests were: Prince Ali Al Hussein, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino and Tokyo Sexwale, a FIFA statement said.
The candidacy of Platini, the suspended head of European governing body UEFA, is to be examined once his 90-day suspension by FIFA’s ethics committee is over.
The only candidate to be disqualified after receiving provisional approval was Musa Bility, the head of the Liberian soccer association.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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