The Indian national team suffered a 2-0 defeat to Thailand in a FIFA international friendly at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani on Wednesday.

Goals in either half from Benjamin Davis and Poramet Arjvilai sealed the win for the hosts in what was the final dress rehearsal before their second AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match for both sides.

India head coach Manolo Marquez stuck with Vishal Kaith in goal, while Anwar Ali, returning from injury, partnered captain Sandesh Jhingan in central defence. Asish Rai and Tekcham Abhishek Singh started in the two full-back positions.

Ayush Chhetri was paired with Apuia in midfield, while the Mohun Bagan Super Giant trio of Manvir Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, and Liston Colaco formed the attacking line behind Sunil Chhetri, who led the line in the No. 9 role.

The Blue Tigers began with an aggressive pressing approach, but Thailand quickly took control of possession and began dictating the tempo in midfield.

The breakthrough came in the 8th minute when Benjamin Davis finished clinically from the edge of the box after being teed up by Korawich Tasa. Davis made no mistake with the strike, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

A few minutes later, Tasa had a chance to double the lead with a curling effort, but his shot went narrowly wide.

India’s first clear-cut opportunity came in the 33rd minute when Colaco made a surging run down the left flank, beating his marker before squaring it to Kuruniyan. However, the latter failed to make a proper connection.

India pushed for an equaliser towards the end of the first half. Abhishek Singh tried his luck from distance with a ferocious strike that went just wide. In stoppage time, Colaco found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but fired straight at the Thailand custodian.

At the break, Suresh Singh came on to replace Apuia. The second half followed a similar pattern—India looking to build possession and press forward, while Thailand sat back and waited to strike on the counter.

In the 58th minute, Thailand doubled their lead through Arjvilai. Davis picked him out in space, and the Thailand No. 11 took his time before curling a beautiful strike that hit the crossbar and bounced into the net.

Marquez responded with a double substitution: debutant Nikhil Prabhu replaced Ayush Chhetri, and Lallianzuala Chhangte came on for Manvir Singh.

Moments later, Kaith made a strong save to keep India in the contest. Brandon Fernandes and Boris Singh were also introduced, coming on for Sunil Chhetri and Asish Rai, respectively.

In the 80th minute, Kuruniyan slipped a neat through-ball to Chhangte, but the substitute dragged his shot wide, summing up a frustrating evening for the Blue Tigers. Suhail Bhat came on late in the game to make his senior debut, replacing Ashique Kuruniyan.

Anwar Ali capped off his return with a timely last-ditch tackle in the 86th minute to prevent further damage, but the result was already beyond India’s reach.

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