Bangkok: Ishii praises the War Elephants' players for their excellent performance, defeating Afghanistan 2-0. According to Thai News Agency, Ishii commended the team for their continued good performance despite having little time to practice. Patrick Gustavsson emerged as a key player, scoring both goals in a warm-up match against Afghanistan. In a friendly football match aligned with the FIFA Day calendar, the Thai national team, ranked 97th in the world, donned their blue kits to face Afghanistan, ranked 156th, at the Rajamangala National Stadium. Masatada Ishii, the head coach of the Thai national team, strategically positioned Patrick Gustavsson as the center forward alongside players like Worachit Kanitsribumphen, Chanarong Promsrikaew, Supachai Sarachat, and Thanawat Suengchitthawon. Irfan Dolah took up the left-back position, despite previous injury issues, while Chanathip Songkrasin was named a substitute. The match kicked off with an early advantage for Thailand, as just 6 minutes in, Worachit Ka nitsribumphen's cross induced an error from the Afghan defense, allowing Patrick Gustavsson to swiftly convert, putting Thailand ahead 1-0. In the second half, the lead was doubled in the 52nd minute when Nicholas Mickelson intercepted the ball and passed it to Worachit Kanitsribumphen, who then assisted Patrick Gustavsson for his second goal. Although the Thai team created several more scoring opportunities, they were unable to increase their tally, leading to a comfortable 2-0 win over Afghanistan. Looking ahead, the War Elephants are set to compete in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Sri Lanka, ranked 200th globally, at the Rajamangala National Stadium on March 25, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Ishii expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting the promising future of the new players selected for the national team. He noted their impressive club performances, which have translated into consistent national team success, particularly praising Patrick. In a post-match statement, Ishii extended birthday wishes to Madam Pang, noting that the team's performance served as a birthday present for her. Patrick Gustavsson, named Man of the Match, expressed his delight at scoring twice and contributing to Thailand's victory, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum as they prepare for the crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Sri Lanka.
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