AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup
The hosts scored all their goals in a 10-minute spell in the second half to deny debutants Bangladesh a winning start to their campaign.
Thailand made the stronger start, with Rasita Taobao and Kurisara Limpawanich keeping Bangladesh custodian Mile Akter on her toes in the opening 10 minutes.
Sapna Rani had the first shot on target for Bangladesh in the 13th minute, but her attempt from distance lacked both power and accuracy, landing straight in keeper Atima Boonprakanpai’s arms.
A jittery Akter then fumbled a free-kick by Rasita in the 16th minute, but Kurisara was too slow on the follow-up with her shot from the far post going across the goalmouth.
The custodian made a fine save in the 28th minute to deny Pichayatida Manowang’s curling long-range attempt, with Kurisara pouncing on the rebound only to see her shot strike the right post.
Bangladesh stunned the home crowd by scoring against the run of play in the 36th minute when Sagorika picked up a defence-splitting through ball from Momita Khatun near the centreline, ran down the middle of the pitch and side-footed home past a diving Atima.
Group A: Thailand v Bangladesh
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It got worse for Thailand five minutes into the second half as Sagorika picked up a pass from Umehla Marma, ran down the right with the Thailand defence in hot pursuit and slipped the ball through Atima’s legs to double her side’s advantage.
The hosts’ attempts to reduce the deficit saw Pichayatida’s shot from inside the box punched out by Akter in the 62nd minute, with the keeper then easily collecting a tamer effort by Rasita from the left and denying captain Rinyaphat Moondong’s fierce strike moments later.
Defender Surovi Arfin’s foul on Natcha Kaewanta, however, sparked Thailand’s fightback with
Kurisara slamming her spot-kick in the 69th minute into the top right corner past a helpless Akter.
They then drew level via another penalty in the 76th minute after Nabiran Khatun brought down Pichayatida, with skipper Rinyaphat - just like Kurisara - finding the top right corner.
Thailand had the crowd on their feet when they completed the remarkable turnaround three minutes later when Pichayatida squeezed her way past two defenders and hit an unstoppable shot from inside the area past Akter.
Thailand will next take on Vietnam on Saturday while Bangladesh will aim to rebound against China PR on the same day.
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