BANGKOK, July 7: Iraqi striker Younes Khalef scored the equaliser to earn his team a 1-1 draw against Group A hosts Thailand in the opening match of the Asian Cup on Saturday.
Khalef headed the ball into the back net to secure the draw and spoil Thailand’s planned celebrations on a wet and miserable night in Bangkok.
Thailand were almost dumped as tournament co-hosts because of organisational problems that followed last year’s military coup and Khalef’s goal combined with the country’s fickle weather to ruin their hopes of a better start.
The expansive Rajamangala Stadium was less than half full after the city was drenched by a tropical storm that caused flash flooding in the surrounding suburbs and kept thousands of potential spectators away.
The pitch had been badly soaked, preventing both teams from developing any fluency and they resorted to long-range shots on goal to try and break the deadlock in the second half.
Iraq had the better of the first half but went behind early to a hotly disputed penalty converted by Thailand striker Sutee Suksomkit.
Thailand’s chief playmaker Datsakorn Thonglao caught the Iraq defence napping in the sixth minute when he flicked the ball to his team-mate Kiatisuk Senamuang who fell in the penalty box after making light contact with Ali Rehema.
Referee Kwon Jong-chul waved away the Iraqi protests before Sutee stepped up to the spot and coolly slotted home.
Iraq were unlucky not to draw level when midfielder Salih Al Sadwn executed a brilliant bicycle kick that Kosin Hathairattanakool tipped onto the bar.
Kosin pulled off another diving save from Sadwn but was powerless to stop the Iraqis from equalising in the 31st minute when Khalef climbed above two defenders to connect with a Sadwn free-kick and head the ball into the back of the net.
Neither side were able to score in the second half as the conditions began to make the pitch even more slippery as they settled for a point each.
Australia and Oman, who are also in Group A, play their opening match at the same ground on Sunday. —Reuters