Sri Lanka produced a stirring performance but came up short as they lost 1-0 to Thailand in their hard-fought but controversy-laden first leg AFC Asian Cup Qualifier (Saudi Arabia 2027) final round Group ‘D’ match, at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Thailand on Tuesday (25).
Despite coming into the game with momentum, following their recent historic 2-1 win over Laos in a FIFA International friendly, the tourists could not break their long-standing losing streak against the higher-ranked Thai side.
The hosts went into the game ranked 97 th in the world, with Sujan Perera’s men ranked 200 in the latest FIFA World Rankings.
The visitors came close to scoring several times, but were unable to put the finishing touches to those moves, as Thailand’s defence held firm throughout.
As the match progressed the home team took control of the game slowly but surely and moments before the interval, they fired in the winning goal courtesy of forward Patrick Gustafsson.
The goal arose after a deft cross from Suphanat Mueanta, which Gustafsson converted from close range and over the head of onrushing Lankan goalie Perera, into the back of the net.
After the turn around Thailand continued to press forward creating a few scoring opportunities, but Sri Lanka captain cum goalkeeper Sujan Perera came to the team’s rescue, making a few crucial saves that kept them in the game.
Sri Lanka though still had an opportunity to equalise with two minutes out from full time, when Adhavan Rajamohan who scored against Laos, delivered a corner kick, but unfortunately it went unconverted.
In the end neither side could break the deadlock in the second-half and Thailand held on to register their seventh successive win over their opponents.
The game was also marked by controversy with Lankan forward Sam Durrant receiving a yellow card in the 36th minute and moments later their star forward Wade Dekker, who had scored in their recent victory over Laos, was booked for a foul. Three Thai players were also shown yellow by the referee.
The tourists also had vehemently protested to the Chinese referee over Gustafsson’s goal with Perera and his teammates, appealing for a foul, alleging that their goalie was physically obstructed, but the match official upheld the critical goal in the 44th minute.
A subsequent heated argument between the referee and Sri Lanka head coach Abdullah Almutairi, resulted in the former dishing out a red card to the latter for confronting the Assistant Referee.
With this loss Sri Lanka’s chances of advancing further in the AFC Asian Qualifiers has been dealt a blow, with them having to face the likes of Chinese Taipei, Turkmenistan and Thailand again on a home and away basis.
Their next assignment will be against Chinese Taipei in Colombo on 10 June.
Afterwards the Lankans will host Turkmenistan in Colombo on 9 October and meet them in Turkmenistan five days later.
Sri Lanka will then host Thailand in Colombo on 18 November and confront Chinese Taipei in Taipei on 31 March 2026.