Supersub Pipat Thailand's hero
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Pipat Thonkanya celebrates his second goal against Oman (AFP: Saeed Khan)
Substitute Pipat Thonkanya was the hero of Thailand on Thursday night with his two goals nudging the side towards an unexpected quarter-final spot at the Asian Cup following a 2-0 win over Oman in Bangkok.
Pipat struck eight minutes apart to rip the heart out of the Omanis, who were a pale shadow of the team that outplayed Australia in a 1-1 draw on Sunday night.
The 28-year-old finished brilliantly both times to send the home crowd into raptures at Rajamangala National Stadium and put the co-hosts in the box seat in group A.
The Thais lead the group on four points with Australia and Iraq on one point each. They play each other on Friday night to press their claims for a place in the last eight.
Thailand deserved their victory and were rewarded for their energy and selfless running off the ball.
The match kicked off in temperatures of 37 degrees and high humidity with the crowd building to around 25,000 shortly after the start.
Pipat came on in the 58th minute and it was his quicksilver finishing which put the polish on an impressive effort from Thailand.
He first struck in the 70th minute when local pin-up Teerathep Winothai, a substitute for Kiatisak Senamuang, broke free on the right and his tantalising cross was volleyed home from close range.
Teerathep won an aerial challenge eight minutes later to present Pipat with his second goal, the striker chesting it down to blast home past Ali Al Habsi.
Oman were under pressure for most of the opening half with four of their players shown the yellow card by Korean referee Lee Gi-Young.
The Omanis had more of the play early in the second half and Imad stormed into the area only for defender Kiatprawut Saiwaew to take it off his toes before he was about to shoot.
Midway through the half Pipat forced goalkeeper Al Habsi into a diving save.
Oman nearly broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Ahmed Hadid's free kick was headed on by Hassan Yousuf only for goalkeeper Kosin Hathairatanakul to palm it to safety off the upright.
But the goals finally came as the Omanis tired and Pipat gave Thailand renewed hope of making an impact at a competition they are co-hosting with Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
-AFP
