Defending champions Thailand brightened their chances of reaching the 2018 Suzuki Cup semi-finals with a convincing 4-2 victory over Indonesia at Rajamangala National Stadium last night.
With their second straight triumph in Group B round-robin battles, Thailand retained their place at the top with a perfect six points, but Indonesia, who lost to the Thais in the two-legged final in the Southeast Asian championship two years ago, were left staring at an early exit after sustaining two losses in three games.
In last night's other Group B game, the Philippines beat Timor Leste 3-2 in Kuala Lumpur.
Thailand and the Philippines, coached by Sven-Goran Eriksson, each have six points.
Singapore and Indonesia both have three points and Timor Leste zero.
Thailand went into last night's match with one change in their line-up, with Pansa Hemviboon coming in for Thai-German defender Manuel Tom Bihr, who pulled out of the squad with a thigh injury after starting in the War Elephants' 7-0 hammering of Timor Leste last week.
It was expected to be a tough encounter for the Thais and the Indonesians seemed poised to pull off an upset victory until the home team shifted gears late in the first half.
A few seconds into the first half, Thailand nearly picked up a goal when Adisak Kraisorn, who scored six goals against Timor Leste, could not connect on a Sanrawat Detchmitr pass.
A few minutes later, Adisak once again failed to latch on to a calculated free-kick from Korrakot Wiriyaudomsiri.
The Indonesians got their chance in the eighth minute but a long shot by Riko Simanjuntak sailed wide off the target.
Thailand continued to find the Indonesian defence far tougher than Timor Leste's as the openings they had been hoping for were never presented.
The home team came close again in the 14th minute after a good short exchange between Sanrawat Detchmitr and Nurul Sriyankem set up Thitiphan Puangjan, whose shot was saved by Indonesia goalkeeper Awan Raharjo.
The Indonesians were quick to hit back but a splendid Simanjuntak effort was thwarted by Thailand goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen.
As the two sides continued to trade attacks, it was the Garudas who drew the first blood.
The Indonesians pulled a fast one on the unsuspecting Thais as a 29th-minute corner was pushed back to Zulfiandi, whose sizzling long shot sailed past the outstretched hands of Siwarak and the visitors gained the edge.
It was a spectacular left-footed curler from Korrakot at the right corner flag that rammed into the far post and skidded into the goal, restoring the order for the War Elephants in the 38th minute. Once again, it was a Korrakot corner that ended up in Indonesia's net -- tapped in a by Pansa -- to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage on the stroke of half-time.
The Thais were more composed in the second half and picked up two additional goals through Adisak (65th minute) and Pokklaw A-nan (74th) to double their tally to 4-1.
The Indonesians pulled one back in the dying moments when Fachruddin Wahyudi Aryanto made the scoreline look somewhat less ignominious.
The Thais are now scheduled to travel to Bacolod to face the Philippines on Wednesday before hosting Singapore next Sunday.
