Thailand U20 team suffered a heavy 3-0 loss to Japan in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Group D opener in Shenzhen, China, on Friday night.
The win, courtesy of goals from Hisatsugu Ishii, Rion Ichihara and Ryunosuke Sato, sees Japan level on points with South Korea, who defeated Syria 2-1 earlier on the same day.
The Japanese opened accounts in the 13th minute when Thailand failed to deal with a corner taken by Rento Takaoka, with the ball falling kindly for the unmarked Ishii, who coolly slipped it home from the left of the six-yard box past a stranded Anut Samran.
Japan claimed their second goal in the 32nd minute, when Anut brought down Hagumu Nakagawa in the penalty area. Ichihara duly converted from the spot by sending the keeper the wrong way.
Thailand U20 head coach Emerson Pereira admitted that Japan's quality and speed as well as the lack of confidence shown by his side made it a difficult match to win.
On Monday, Japan will face Syria while Thailand will have their hands full with 12-time champions South Korea.