AFC Asian Cup 2019: 3 reasons why India beat Thailand 4-1

#3 Overall poor performance from Thailand

Thailand failed to live up to the occasion

Even though credits await the Indian team for their performance in today’s game, to be fair, it was a pretty disappointing performance from Thailand who would be cursing themselves to not salvage at least a point from the game.

Thailand started off on a good note and looked on par with the Indian team with their forward line in Kraisorn, Puangchan and Dangda posing a regular threat for the blue tigers in the early stages of the game. When Dangda scored the equaliser for Thailand one expected the Thais to be more lethal in the game and give India a fight for the three points.

But the post-halftime narrative was a totally different story as the Thais were sluggish for the major part of those 45 minutes and opened up spaces in the defence for India to capitalise. India also didn’t receive much pressure up the field from the Thai midfield and attack as the passage of passing was free for India to capitalise, who otherwise rely on plenty of long balls for attacks.

However, thanks to Thailand’s sluggish play, India’s oldest player in Sunil Chhetri, youngest player in Anirudh Thapa and out of form Jeje Lalpekhlua, all got their names on the score sheet, which is very important for India going forward. Taking no credits away from this historic win but one would agree that India was not completely tested on true terms in their Asian Cup opener.