Thailand were unable to make the most of a flying start as they were beaten 5-2 by Japan in their Group A opener at the AFC U-16 Championship on Thursday.
Only 56 seconds had passed at the UM Arena Stadium in Kuala Lumpur when the Thais broke the deadlock, as Waragon Thongbai ran onto a slide-rule pass from Thanarin Thumsen before squeezing a left-footed shot from an acute angle into the bottom corner.
1' GOAL 1-0 Thailand πΉπ
Waragon bamboozles Japan with a goal in the opening minute of the match! π#AFCU16 pic.twitter.com/N15GQGCkez
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) September 20, 2018
Nonetheless, it took Japan just five minutes to level the scores after their opponents failed to clear their lines and Waragon scuffed a clearance straight to Ryotaro Araki, who proceeded to lash a shot into the back of the net.
6' GOAL 1-1 Japan π―π΅
Thailand failed to clear their lines and that is all Araki needed to equalise the score!#AFCU16 pic.twitter.com/cgwckLBcdH
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) September 20, 2018
Two minutes later, the Japanese edged ahead with Araki playing a pivotal role once again, nipping in behind the opposition defence to race through before unselfishly laying the ball off to leave Kuraba Kondo with a straightforward tap-in.
8' GOAL 2-1 Japan π―π΅
A very unselfish play from Araki allows Kondo to takes advantage and fire it into the side of the net!#AFCU16 pic.twitter.com/lEQBx79sfK
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) September 20, 2018
In what was turning out to be a hectic opening to the contest, it was then Thailandβs turn to equalise although they were given a helping hand by Riku Handa.
With no apparent danger, Handa dallied in possession on the edge of his own area and was duly dispossessed by Suphanat Mueanta; the Buriram United starlet making sure to punish his opponent with a clinical finish past Taiki Yamada.
15' GOAL 2-2 Thailand πΉπ
Suphanat comes out of nowhere to equalise the score! Japan were definitely napping on that one.#AFCU16 pic.twitter.com/cMbrliCjEa
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) September 20, 2018
But, four minutes after the half-hour mark, the two-time former champions reclaimed the lead with a well-worked move as they switched the ball from left the right and, although Hikaru Naruoka mishit his attempt, it sat up nicely for Araki to stoop low and send a header into the back of the net.
34' GOAL 3-2 Japan π―π΅
At the end of a diligent build-up, Araki scores a brace with a well-positioned header!#AFCU16 pic.twitter.com/KxlYkgj13h
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) September 20, 2018
Four minutes before the break, Handa made amends for his earlier error when he pounced on a loose ball and smashed home from close range following more hesistant defending by Thailand.
41' GOAL 4-2 Japan π―π΅
Thailand's failure to clear the ball put it right in the path of Handa, who wasted no time in smashing it in from close range!#AFCU16 pic.twitter.com/ZpGDdDPpfF
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) September 20, 2018
As fate would have it, the goals dried up in the second half despite the Thais giving it all in search of a way back into the contest.
Still, there was time for one final hurrah from the Japanese in the 90th minute with Ryuma Nakano embarking on an enterprising run through the middle before releasing fellow substitute Shoji Toyama, who β just four minutes after coming on β made no mistake in finishing past Taweesri for an early birthday present on the day before he turns 16.
90' GOAL 5-2 Japan π―π΅
The substitute does good, as Toyama converts a well-timed sidefoot from Nakano to wrap up this match!#AFCU16 pic.twitter.com/X6JrWpGg2q
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) September 20, 2018
JAPAN: Taiki Yamada, Kohshiro Sumi, Kaito Suzuki, Riku Handa, Shinya Nakano, Asahi Yokokawa, Hikaru Naruoka, Kakeru Yamauchi, Ryotaro Araki (Ryuma Nakano 82β), Kuraba Kondo (Keita Nakano 63β), Jun Nishikawa (Shoji Toyama 86β).
THAILAND: Anuchid Taweesri, Arthit Bua-ngam, Pongsakorn Innet, Jakkrapong Sanmahung, Chatmongkol Ruengthanarote, Sarawut Saowaros, Thanaret Thumsen (Kittiphong Khetpara 52β), Thanarin Thumsen, Thanakrit Laorkai (Punnawat Chote-jirachaithon 21β), Waragon Thongbai (Apidet Janngam 74β), Suphanat Mueanta.