00:00Let's see how long this rain continues to fall from the dark night sky in Bangkok, all underway.
00:09Oh, I'm excited about this game, Steve. I really am. I'm fascinated to see how Thailand in particular are going
00:15to approach this, because I've always thought that Thailand...
00:17The dead ball as well. This is dangerous for Thailand.
00:20It's headed back well and off the line by Tanahpun.
00:26That's a Honda who got the ball back, I think.
00:28Honda on the back post. That's the one player you don't want to leave alone.
00:32The Milan forward towards the back post. Cowan had lost it.
00:36Let's leave for Hamburg, I must say. He certainly got that role today for Japan.
00:40Headed down and cleared off the line. That was a very good save from Cowan.
00:45Point blank, but he did what he did in.
00:47And you've got to give credit to Thailand, because they have been under pressure, but they didn't dive in.
00:51This was the chance earlier. Brilliant save from Cowan.
00:55I think that's Yoshida coming in late.
00:59That man is already seeing how much pressure is side around, and that's the first goal.
01:04A header.
01:07From Haraguchi, the Hertha Berlin midfielder.
01:12Who wasn't marked.
01:1518 minutes into this contest, and that is a bitter blow for the ties.
01:19Don't forget they lost their first game, but there was no marking there, John, anywhere near him.
01:23Well, it's the same as the first game against Saudi Arabia. The trouble coming down on the right-hand side,
01:28on Japan's right-hand side.
01:33Sakai.
01:35Plays the ball directly forward. Very well shielded.
01:40And the ball comes across the face of the goal there. It was really very well done by Asano.
01:47But nobody could get a toe on it. Honda's shaking his head, knowing that that was a real opportunity missed.
01:53Well, Tanabu, I don't know where he went then, I think he went far.
01:56Oh!
01:57It just went under.
01:58He's not able to have the discipline to play a short ball and find feet.
02:02They've lost possession far too much with the hoisted ball.
02:04For now, though, Yamaguchi on the far side.
02:09Finds Sakai.
02:10Up goes Honda, and again well saved.
02:14And the rebound parried away, and the goalkeeper comes to Thailand's rescue again.
02:18Well, again!
02:19Indeed.
02:21Tell you what, though, Stib, we saw a little bit of a cameo appearance, didn't we, from Chana Tibson-Krasen
02:25when he got the ball.
02:25This was the header from Honda.
02:28Seen nothing wrong with the header, really.
02:29It's just a world-class save from Cowan.
02:31We see him do that over and over.
02:33We're buried in certain aspects of the game in the first half.
02:36Can't go with the corner.
02:40As Stevie plays the ball out of them, knocks it in again.
02:44And this is dangerous for Thailand.
02:46It's under their feet.
02:48The Japanese can't quite get the shot off.
02:50It's all 6s and 7s in there.
02:52Very messy, isn't it?
02:53Just, very fortunately, drops into the hand.
02:56A high relief from the Thai fans.
02:58This is the foul on Chana Tib.
03:00Does really well.
03:00Uses his body break there.
03:01He's got a lot of contact.
03:02He spins around.
03:03This is the, this is the comedy football period here.
03:08Oh, and they're calling for a foul.
03:10A handball off Narek.
03:11Compared to the first half, it's Honda for Japan.
03:14And on the overlap is a very busy...
03:17Oh, and this must go!
03:18How could he have missed that one?
03:20Did the goalkeeper get a hand to that?
03:22Yeah, it's right for offside.
03:25Kiroki Saka came in at the far post.
03:28Well, this all came about from a chip ball in the midfield area.
03:32To Chana Tibson Classic got cut out.
03:35Honda plays that through.
03:36It was he that was off.
03:38It was 18 that was offside.
04:02It was a great save initially to get down and get your hand on it.
04:06But it was even better to save knowing there was a...
04:09And that goalkeeper stops him.
04:11How many goals did he do?
04:13How many goals did he do?
04:14I tell you all this goalkeeper.
04:16This goalkeeper performance has reminded me of this is what matters for goal goalkeeper performance
04:19of the way to the Samurai Blue in Japan.
04:23Just no way past.
04:24This is important to draw on that night.
04:28It's a nice height for Cowen.
04:30But he stood up for a long time.
04:33You may have seen there the rain now coming down quite heavily again.
04:38Oh, and there's a chance now.
04:40And a defensive error has surely now cost them the gain.
04:45Japan through Asano have gone 2-0 up.
04:48And I think that was probably what I learned now, John.
04:52Well, I guess it is.
04:53I mean, it really must be.
04:55The relief on some of the Japanese fans faces is there to see.
04:58But even then, it wasn't a clean strike on goal.
05:01It wasn't past Cowen.
05:03And Cowen perhaps will be disappointed.
