Thailand narrowly missed the football bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games after losing 1-0 to Iraq on Thursday.
Thai striker Adisak Kraisorn attacks the Iraqi net in the battle for Asian Games football third place at Incheon Munhak Stadium on Thursday. (Photo by Pattarapong Chartpattarasill)
The third-place match was held at the Incheon Munhak Stadium. Earlier Thailand lost to South Korea 2-0 while Iraq went down to North Korea 1-0.
The match began with exciting exchanges as both teams attacked hard.
Iraq's experienced striker Younis Mahmoud came close to scoring in just the second minute of the game, narrowly missing the Thai net. Barely a minute later, Thai forward Adisak Kraisorn let fly at the Iraqi goal but the strike was too soft and no problem for keeper Mohammed Hameed Farhan.
In the 41st minute Adisak had a shot in the penalty box but Farhan was able to block it. The game was scoreless at the interval.
Thailand attacked well at the start of the second half and had frequent chances to strike, while Iraq turned in telling counter-attacks. The deciding goal went to Iraq from a header by Mahmoud after a corner kick at the 62nd minute.
Thailand intensified its attack in a desperate bid to draw even. In the last 15 minutes of the match, midfielder Charyl Chappuis sent a powerful shot to the near post but Farhan blocked it. The midfielder had another close shot from the right side just outside the penalty box but the ball narrowly missed the far post.
The game concluded with Thailand losing the Asian Games bronze for the fourth time.