BANGKOK, July 12: Striker Pipat Tongkanya scored twice in eight minutes to lift hosts Thailand to a convincing 2-0 win over Oman and top spot in Asian Cup Group A on Thursday.

Pipat combined with fellow substitute Teerathep Winothai in the 70th and 78th minutes to give the Thais a well-earned victory.

The victory was the Kingdom’s first in the Asian Cup since they made their debut in 1972.

The win put Thailand on four points, three ahead of Iraq and Australia who meet on Friday in the next Group A game.

Also on Thursday, striker Sebastian Quintana burst Vietnam’s bubble with a 79th-minute equaliser that enabled Qatar to salvage a 1-1 draw with the Asian Cup co-hosts in Hanoi.

Vietnam were within sight of becoming the first team to reach the quarter-finals after Phan Thanh Binh’s fortuitous strike after 32 minutes.

Qatar goal-keeper Mohamed Saqr’s attempt to smother Binh’s speculative long-range strike went horribly wrong as he let the ball squirm under his body and trickle across the line.

But Quintana headed home from close range with just over 10 minutes left to throw Group B wide open.

The home side still lead Group B with four points. Holders Japan take on UAE on Friday in Hanoi.—Reuters