U23 Thailand started quite proactively in the first half and soon created notable attacks. Right in the 4th minute, from a direct free kick situation, Teerapat tried his luck with a powerful shot but the ball went inaccurately, unable to cause difficulties for the U23 Iraq goalkeeper.
2 minutes later, the Southeast Asian representative had a fast counter-attack. Phochai escaped to receive the ball in an open position and then finished quickly, but the Iraqi defender promptly retreated to block the ball, saving the goal.
The stalemate was maintained in the following period. In the 17th minute, U23 Thailand continued to show danger in counter-attacks. Phochai skillfully dribbled on the left flank and then crossed inside, but his teammate did not touch the ball well.
The turning point came in the 27th minute, from a lackluster defensive situation of U23 Thailand, the referee determined a foul in the penalty area and awarded U23 Iraq a penalty. From the 11m spot, Amoori Faisal finished with a dangerous curling shot, putting the West Asian team ahead 1-0.
Stepping into the second half, U23 Thailand was forced to push up the squad to find an equalizer. In the 50th minute, the Southeast Asian representative increased the pressure but the final handling still lacked the necessary accuracy.
In the opposite direction, U23 Iraq still organized regular attacks but their playing style was quite disjointed. Iraqi players often handled individually, lacking coordination in movement and coordination. In fact, they did not risk pushing up but mainly prioritized maintaining a fragile advantage.
The final minutes of the match witnessed more tense developments. It seemed that U23 Iraq would preserve the victory, but U23 Thailand unexpectedly found an equalizer.
In the 86th minute, after a cross into the penalty area, the Iraqi defense cleared the ball unrestrainedly. Seizing the opportunity, Phochai was present at the right time and finished from close range, equalizing the score for the Golden Temple team before the match ended. The 1-1 draw helped U23 Thailand cling to the hoped-for opportunity in the race to win a ticket to the quarterfinals.
In the final match, U23 Thailand will face U23 China on January 14, but no longer have the right to decide for themselves.
