Thailand defeated India 2-1 in a friendly at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.

By Adarsh Vinay
 
This was the second international friendly between the two sides in the span of five days.
 
Second half strikes from Winothai Teerathep and Keawsombat Keerati helped Thailand see off a lacklustre India side.
 
Thailand started strongly, forcing Subrata Paul into action as early as the second minute. The visitors continued attacking and won four corners in the first half. Thailand then hit the post through one of the corners and again through Dechmitr Wichaya’s curling shot from the right flank.
 
India’s first real chance came in the in the 19th minute but Mohammed Rafi failed to capitalise. A mistake by the Thai defence sent the Churchill Brothers forward through on goal.

There was another scare for India just before half-time when Thai left-back Samana Natthaphong’s 30-yard effort struck the crossbar. It was the third time that the visitors were denied by the woodwork.
 
Thailand started the second half strongly and they had a goal to show for their efforts. In the 48th minute, Teerathep curled in a shot from just outside the box. The Indian goalkeeper did nothing but pick the ball out of the net.
 
India came back into the game with the help of Anthony Pereira’s cross from the right which was headed towards goal by Sunil Chhetri. Thai goalkeeper Thamasatchanan Kawin parried the shot only for Pradeep to head in the rebound.
 
In the 64th minute, Thailand regained their lead thanks to a goalmouth scramble. With the Indian defence trying hard to clear, Keerati dived low to head beyond Paul from two yards out.
 
Bhaichung Bhutia was brought on as a substitute in the 70th minute. He immediately made his presence felt as India came close to equalising twice. But the well-organised Thai defence cleared the danger on both occasions.
 
Bhutia almost scored with an acrobatic effort in the 85th minute. He met Pereira’s cross with an overhead kick that went wide of the goal post.
 
The hosts were denied a penalty in the dying minutes when Bhutia was brought down inside the box. However, referee Pratap Singh decided that it was only a freekick and Pradeep’s shot was blocked by the Thai defence.
 
The referee blew the full-time whistle soon after and Thailand registered their third-straight victory over India. India will play two more friendlies against Namibia and Gambia on the 15th and 19th September respectively.