Oman lost their first match against Saudi Arabia 1-2, but they only conceded their second goal in the final stages of the match.
When Oman went 1-0 up, the defense was well manned, with a 5-man defense and 4-man midfield playing well, but they will be disappointed with Saudi Arabia's equalizer through the middle of the pitch. It was encouraging to see that the defense was tight, especially in the first half, and the team was able to counterattack efficiently when they got the ball. Thailand's offense is like water under the bridge, so I expect Omani defender Ekames to lead the defense well this time. If they allow Soracha to create chances in their own midfield, Oman will have a tough time.
Thailand defeated Kirghiz 2-0 in the first round of the group stage. Even though Kirghiz had the ball at their feet, Thailand seemed to have the ability to get the ball back to the opponents, and then quickly break through the opponents' defense to create chances in the open spaces or behind their backs. A number of players in their squad were able to get into the penalty area to receive crosses and score goals, with Soracha's movement towards the front post being too much for the defenders to defend against, which led to Chardardardi's goal early in the second half. Cherdadi also scored twice in this match, not only did he get other chances to add to his record, but his positioning and overall creativity was excellent. I think Oman will be able to make it difficult for Thailand to fulfill their pre-match plan, and the two sides will end up with a draw and a point each.
In the same group, Kirghiz vs Saudi Arabia, Kirghiz lost 0-2 to Thailand in their first match, and the team needs to improve in several areas before this match. One of them is the defense needs to have better control. Against Thailand, the team was beaten behind the defense many times, in other words, it's only a matter of time before they lose the game. Saudi Arabia will have a good chance to have the ball most of the time, and if Kyrgyz fails to make good passes after getting the ball, they will continue to be under pressure. With that in mind, Zulkowitz's intensity will be crucial, and defensively I'd like to see Gorshubov lead the defense to a better performance.
