2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers: Japan bounce back from UAE loss to down Thailand

Bangkok: Japan put their 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign firmly back on track after their shock 2-1 home defeat to the UAE last Thursday with a comfortable 2-0 victory over an outplayed Thailand side at the sold-out Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Goals from Genki Haraguchi and Takuma Asano handed Japan three points and their margin of victory could have been a lot more convincing but for the brilliance of Thailand ‘keeper Kawin Thamsatchanan, who made a number of world-class saves.

It was Thailand’s second consecutive defeat after their 1-0 away loss to Saudi Arabia last Thursday.

Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic sprang a surprise by dropping Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki to the bench with 21-year-old Asano coming into the line-up in one of three changes from the team that started against the UAE.

For Thailand, midfielder Charyl Chappuis, recently back from a 16-month injury layoff, started in place of the suspended Sarach Yooyen, with Narubadin Weerawatnodom replacing Mongkol Totsakrai, who had a quiet game against Saudi Arabia.

Japan opened brightly with Gotoku Sakai and Haraguchi combining well down the left flank and causing the Thais all sorts of problems.

The first real chance for the four-time AFC Asian Cup champions came in the 11th minute when Keisuke Honda nodded a Shinji Kagawa corner goalwards, only for Tanaboon Ketsarat to head the ball over the bar for a corner.

Japan were dominating possession and the goal that their pressure deserved came in the 18th minute. Hiroki Sakai’s beautifully flighted cross from the right was met by Haraguchi and the Hertha Berlin man’s powerful header flew past Thailand ‘keeper Kawin.

Recent Arsenal signing Asano justified his selection in the 75th minute when he outpaced Tanaboon and hit the ball under the diving Kawin for Japan’s second goal.

Thailand’s woe was compounded when substitute Deeprom Prakit was shown a red card for a bad tackle on Kagawa in the dying minutes.

Elsewhere in Group B on Tuesday, two late penalty kicks from Nawaf Al Abid gave Saudi Arabia a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Iraq in Malaysia on Tuesday evening and a perfect six points from six in Group B.

Iraq, hosting the match at the Shah Alam Stadium due to security concerns at home, had led since the first half thanks to Mohannad Abdul Raheem and were on top for much of the 90 minutes.

But with victory in sight, two spot-kicks from Al Abid gave the visitors three more vital points, five days after needing a late penalty to defeat Thailand 1-0 in Riyadh, and condemned the hosts to a second straight defeat after a 2-0 loss to Australia five days previously.