Thanks to a single goal from veteran striker Teerasil Dangda, Thailand defeated Hong Kong by a narrow margin in a friendly match at So Kon Po Stadium on the evening of June 19th.
* Goal: Teerasil Dangda 62'.
Hong Kong made four changes compared to their 0-1 friendly loss away to Vietnam, while Thailand made five changes compared to their 2-2 draw against Taiwan. Midfielders Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul and Channarong Promsrikaew replaced Weerathep Pomphan and Thitipan Puangchan.
According to Scorebar , Thailand controlled 64% of the ball possession, taking 17 shots with seven on target. Hong Kong only had one shot on target out of seven attempts.
Veteran 35-year-old Teerasil Dangda celebrates his 63rd goal for the Thai national team. Photo: FAT
Throughout the first half, Hong Kong's goal was constantly under attack, but the ball rarely found its target. Teerasil Dangda and Supachok Sarachat each had two chances, but both shots went over the crossbar.
In the second half, the match unexpectedly heated up. In the 47th minute, Huang Yang fouled Sarach Yooyen. The Thai players reacted strongly, demanding a red card, but the Singaporean referee only issued a yellow card to the Hong Kong captain.
After numerous attempts to break through the defense, Thailand finally found the net in the 62nd minute. Channarong's pass tore through the Hong Kong defense, allowing Dangda to run down and curl the ball into the net with his right foot. This was also the only goal of the match, ending Thailand's streak of three consecutive draws and losses.
For Dangda personally, this was his 63rd goal for the Thai national team, just eight goals short of Kiatisuk Senamuang's record. The striker, born in 1988, also reached 124 appearances, 10 matches short of Kiatisuk's record.
Following a series of friendly matches in June, Thailand will wait until September to host the traditional King's Cup tournament, featuring three invited teams: Iraq, Lebanon, and India. In October, they will travel to Europe for training, facing Georgia and Estonia before playing in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Asian region.
Starting lineup
Hong Kong: Yapp Hung-Fai, Kwung Chung Leung, Vas Nunez, Nok Hang Leung, Law Tsz-Chun, Tan Chun Lok, Huang Yang, Yue Tze-Nam, Sun Ming-Him, Matthew Orr, Wai Wong
Thailand: Chatchai Budprom, Nicholas Mickelson, Elias Dolah, Chalermsak Aukkee, Peerapat Notchaiya, Sarach Yooyen, Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul, Channarong Promsrikaew, Chanathip Songkrasin, Supachok Sarachat, Teerasil Dangda.
Hieu Luong
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