Kings Cup: Anirudh Thapa's lone goal against host Thailand gets India third place finish

Anirudh Thapa helped Indian football team get the 1-0 lead in half time which continued on till full time as they defeated host Thailand in their King's Cup third-place playoff match in Buriram on June 8.

In an attempt to give chance to all 23 players, coach Igor Stimac made eight changes from the team. Sunil Chhetri was also benched for this match. 

A rock solid performance by the #BlueTigers  earns them the rd place spot in the #KingsCup 
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 0-1 
.#THAIND #BackTheBlue  #IndianFootball  pic.twitter.com/Ym9LjjRzZH

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 8, 2019

India started off with good possession as Balwant Singh and Farukh Choudhary led the attack. Anirudh Thapa was supporting the duo from behind. Thailand, on the other hand, tried attacking India from the wings.

Unlike the match against Curacao, India found early lead at the Chang Arena. In the 17th minute, Raynier Fernandes' poor free-kick was cleared inside the box and defender Adil Khan fired a cross across the face of the goal. Thapa slotted the ball home in time.

Just five minutes later, Thailand's Teerasil Dangda found the net with his overhead volley, but the goal was called off as he was flagged offside.

Thailand kept attacking the Indian defense from the edge of the box. In the 34th minute, defender Adil was even forced to put in a block to stop Sumanya Purisay's attempt. 

India did get a chance to double its lead moments before the whistle, but due to mistimed judgment between Balwant and Farukh, the ball was cleared off by defender Adisorn.

FULL TIME! And that's the end of that! 

 Matches
 Goals #BlueTigers  have earned their nd consecutive victory against @Changsuek_TH 

 0-1 #THAIND #KingsCup  #BlueTigers  #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball  pic.twitter.com/1vgRncG1ef

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 8, 2019

Trailing by a goal, Thailand kept testing the Indian defense to find the equalizer. Amrinder Singh, who guarded the goal in place of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, saved the aggressive attacks done by Thailand.

At the full-time whistle, India managed to hold on its one-goal lead and clinch the win against Thailand, hereby earning the third spot in the King's Cup.

India will now play in the Intercontinental Cup from July 7 at Ahmedabad, alongside Syria, Tajikistan and North Korea.