Thai U23 Coach Points Out Team's Weakness Ahead of Match Against Vietnam

Head coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul shared notable insights after Thailand U23 let victory slip against China U23 in their opening match at the CFA Team China 2026 tournament.

In this match, Thailand U23 started impressively, leading 2-0 in the first half thanks to goals from Jehanfi Mama and Chawalwit Saelao. However, in the second half, the Golden Temple team could not maintain their advantage as the opponent equalized 2-2 in the final minutes, ending a dramatic 90 minutes filled with tense situations.

Speaking after the match, Coach Thawatchai emphasized: “This was a good match and a very useful tournament for the Thai team. We clearly understand that facing the Chinese team is a difficult challenge, as they are a strong team at the Asian level. I must praise the fighting spirit of the Thai players; they played with great effort and dedication. We will strive to perform our best to deserve the invitation to participate in the tournament from China.”

He also stressed: “We know China U23 is currently very strong. The Thai team will continue to develop and do everything to defeat China if we want to reach a new level.”

Evaluating the match's progression, Coach Thawatchai shared: “In the first half, our players were still energetic and managed to lead by 2 goals. China scoring to equalize was understandable. Additionally, some players faced fitness and injury issues, which affected their ability to maintain performance throughout the match. The result may not have been as desired, but we gained valuable experience and the players learned the standards of higher-level competition.”

The on-field reality showed that China U23 started proactively and created significant pressure early, even having a shot hit the crossbar in the 2nd minute. However, Thailand U23 gradually regained control and capitalized on opportunities to lead 2-0 after just over 30 minutes of play.

Moving into the second half, the situation reversed as the home team pushed forward. Consecutive goals and relentless pressure forced Thailand's defense to retreat deeply, ultimately accepting a draw. The match heated up further in stoppage time when each team received a red card after intense clashes.

Although unable to secure all 3 points, Thailand U23's performance still offered many positive signals, especially in the first half. According to the plan, Thailand U23 will face Vietnam U23 in the next match on March 28, promising to remain a major challenge for Coach Thawatchai and his team.