Despite an attacking team selection, playing three up front, Thailand were taken apart by the the clinical Japanese. It could have been much worse than 4-0 as the home side wasted a number of chances but to their credit, Thailand never let their heads drop and at times gave Japan plenty to think about.
The gulf in class was obvious from the start as the Thai defence was left chasing shadows. The decision to play Siroch, Teerasil and Adisak was a good one with the latter again showing that he should be an automatic choice up front.
However, Thailand had no answer to Kubo who made two and scored one in an outstanding display. Japan took the lead in the 8th minute when Kubo’s low right-wing cross found Kagawa in the box. A superb turn and shimmy gave him the space to beat Kawin with an excellent low finish.
It was two in the nineteenth minute when Kubo delivered a powerful cross in from the right and Okazaki only had to get his head on the ball to power it into the net, a superb cross.
Japan continued to cut the Thai defence open but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping prevented the hosts from extending their lead. Indeed, Thailand enjoyed a good spell heading towards the interval and the home keeper denied Adisak from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Thailand contined to push Japan back in the second-half but that man Kubo put the game to bed with an excellent finish in the 57th minute. Still the War Elephants kept going but the home side were now in cruise control and added a fourth with a Yoshida header following a left-wing corner in the 83rd minute.
The visitors had a chance to grab a late consolation when Teerasil was brought down in the area but his disappointing penalty was easily saved.
It was a comprehensive defeat and the Japanese simply had too much class for Thailand to cope with. The home side have several players plying their trade in Europe and it certainly showed. The national side desperately needs the standard of Thai League 1 to improve if they are ever going to really compete with the big boys.