Qatar and Thailand drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in the final round of Group F of the 2023 Asian Cup, thereby rising to 101st place in the FIFA rankings and leading Southeast Asia.
With Saudi Arabia having a higher FIFA ranking, Thailand benefited from the draw by adding 7.75 points. The team has 1,206.7 points to take 101st place from Kosovo – 1,202.77 points, and is only 0.24 points behind Tajikistan. Previously, Thailand was added 18.99 points and 3.98 points respectively after beating Kyrgyzstan 2-0 and drawing 0-0 with Oman. The team has moved up 12 places from 113th place before the 2023 Asian Cup.
Thailand also leads Southeast Asia, replacing Vietnam since December 2017. After three losses in Group D, Vietnam has dropped 11 places, falling from 94th to 105th.
Thailand (white shirt) drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in the final match of Group F of the 2023 Asian Cup. Photo: AFC
Before the match at Education City Stadium on the evening of January 25, both Thailand and Saudi Arabia were sure to advance to the round of 16. Therefore, coach Masatada Ishii boldly changed the entire squad compared to the draw with Oman, while Saudi Arabia changed nine positions compared to the 2-0 win over Kyrgyzstan and only kept center back Ali Al Bulayhi and midfielder Salem Al Dawsari.
Thailand were at a disadvantage in the 10th minute when Suphan Thongsong fouled Abdulrahman Ghareeb in the penalty area. Captain Salem Al Dawsari gave the penalty to young striker Abdullah Radif, but his low shot into the middle of the goal was blocked by goalkeeper Saranon Anuin.
The remaining time saw each team having two goals ruled out for offside, with Thailand in the 15th and 35th minutes, and Saudi Arabia in the 16th and 57th minutes. The West Asian representatives controlled the game better thanks to the mobility of two technical players Salem Al Dawsari and Ghareeb, but both ended with shots that were not difficult enough to defeat Saranon.
Goalkeeper Saranon saves Abdullah Radif's penalty kick. Photo: AFC
Saudi Arabia was superior in all parameters with 69% possession, 11 corners compared to five, 682 passes compared to Thailand's 301. Coach Roberto Mancini's students launched 17 shots with seven on target compared to their opponents' four. Being forced to defend made Thailand have 32 clearances, four times more than Saudi Arabia, but only committed four fouls.
The two teams could not find the back of the net and had to settle for a 0-0 draw. Thailand has five points, ranking second in Group F and two points behind Saudi Arabia. Coach Masatada Ishii's team also became the second team at the 2023 Asian Cup to not concede a goal after host Qatar.
In the round of 16, Thailand will face Uzbekistan, while Saudi Arabia will face South Korea on the same day, January 30. The remaining six knockout matches are Tajikistan - UAE, Iraq - Jordan, Australia - Indonesia, Iran - Syria, Bahrain - Japan and Qatar - Palestine.
Starting lineup
Thailand : Saranon Anuin, Santiphap Channgom, Jakkaphan Praisuwan, Suphan Thongsong, Suphanan Bureerat, Kritsada Kaman, Sarach Yooyen, Pathomphol Charoenrattanapirom, Worachit Kanitsribampen, Jaroensak Vongkorn, Teerasak Poeiphimai
Saudi Arabia : Raghed Najjar, Fawaz Al Yami, Awn Al Saluli, Ali Al Bulayhi, Hassan Kadesh, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Mukhtar Ali, Salem Al Dawsari, Faisal Al Ghamdi, Abdullah Radif, Abdulrahman Ghareeb.
Hieu Luong
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