Thailand’s men’s football team will not ease off when it faces Hong Kong in its second Group A match at the 2026 Asian Games, despite coming from two goals down to beat Kyrgyzstan in its opening game.
Thailand staged a strong comeback to win 3-2 against Kyrgyzstan on Sept 16, earning three points after trailing 2-0 early in the match.
Jehanafi Mama started the recovery by scoring Thailand’s first goal, before substitute Pariphan Wongsa struck twice in four minutes to complete the turnaround.
The result gave Thailand a positive start to the tournament, but head coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul has warned his players not to become complacent.
Thailand will meet Hong Kong at Toyota Stadium in Aichi on Sept 20, with another victory putting the team in a strong position to reach the knockout stage.
Thawatchai said the team’s objective before the tournament was to collect at least four points from its opening two matches. Having already secured three points against Kyrgyzstan, Thailand now has an opportunity to reach the target with a result against Hong Kong.
The coach credited the players for their determination after falling two goals behind and said tactical changes in the second half helped Thailand create more attacking pressure.
Wongsa’s introduction proved particularly effective. The forward had been part of several national-team training camps and was brought on because of his finishing ability.
Despite the comeback, Thailand’s coaching staff are expected to demand greater concentration against Hong Kong, particularly after the team conceded twice in the opening stages of its first match.
A win against Hong Kong would also give Thailand greater confidence heading into its final group match against hosts Japan.
Thailand’s players have trained together through several camps before the tournament, helping build familiarity and confidence within the squad.
The team will now look to carry the momentum from its opening victory into the Hong Kong match while maintaining the intensity that helped it recover from a difficult start against Kyrgyzstan.
