Following their heroics against Australia, Thailand went into their match against Indonesia full of confidence. The game was played in heavy rain, with Thailand being a long way from their best.
They ran out 4-2 winners with Teerasil being the hat-trick hero.
Thailand made a dream start when following a dreadful defensive blunder, Peerapat sent a low,measured lef-foot shot into the far corner after four minutes.
It got even better for them in the 36th minute when Teerasil reacted to a deflection in front of goal and just managed to get enough on the ball to force it over the line.
It was a scrappy game, with both teams guilty of giving the ball away far too often. The second-half started badly for Thailand with Indonesia rocking them with two goals in three minutes.
First Boaz Solassa was allowed to head a left-wing cross past the stranded keeper in the fifty-third minute. Three minutes later, Lerby Babu got between two static Thai defenders to head in a right-wing cross, again leaving the keeper a mere spectator.
Thailand pushed forward but never really threatened the Indonesia goal. However, a move of real quality allowed them to regain the lead in the seventy-ninth minute.
The ball was worked down the left before a low cross was laid back into the path of Teerasil who drilled a low shot just inside the post. A superb piece of finishing.
Thailand comfortably saw out the remaining minutes before Teerasil had the simplest of chances to complete his hat-trick from close range in the third minute of stoppage time.
Not a performance to remember and the defence were badly at fault for both goals.
A big improvement will be needed in the next game if the War Elephants are to retain the Suzuki Cup.
Thailand’s next two group games :-
Tuesday, November 22 Singapore, 3.30pm and Friday November 25 Philippines 7pm.
Times are Thai time and both games will be shown live on Sports Channel 7.