Thailand conceded in the very first minute due to a defensive blunder. From a long ball by the hosts, center-back Shinnaphat Leeaoh made a careless back pass, allowing striker Mihail Titov to break through. Titov then cut inside, beating the 1.96 m-tall center-back Elias Dolah, before slotting a low shot across goal to open the scoring for Turkmenistan.

The visitors equalized in the 35th minute from a set piece. Midfielder Peeradol Chamrasamee delivered a free kick from the right into the box, where forward Supachai Jaided headed home unmarked, sending the ball high into the far corner.

However, just two minutes later, Turkmenistan regained the lead. Midfielder Shanazar Tirkishov broke free on the right side of the penalty area to receive a long pass, before squaring the ball for midfielder Yhlas Saparmammedow to tap in at the far post.

Captain Mekan Saparow sealed the 3-1 win from a set piece. The Thai defense failed to clear a Turkmenistan corner, allowing Saparow to pounce and secure an important victory for the hosts.

Turkmenistan, a Central Asian country with a population of just over 7 million, is ranked 142nd in the FIFA rankings and fifth among Southeast Asian teams, behind Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Tuesday victory helps Turkmenistan stay atop Group D with two wins from two matches.

Thailand, currently ranked 99th by FIFA, were missing defender Theerathon Bunmathan, midfielder Supachok Sarachat, and forward Suphanat Mueanta in this match, though they still had captain Chanathip Songkrasin. However, the 31-year-old midfielder could not make a difference and was substituted in the 66th minute. The visitors could have lost by a larger margin, as Saparow’s header struck the crossbar in the 12th minute.

The third round of 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers features 24 teams divided into six groups of four, playing home and away from March 25, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Thailand are in Group D with Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. Only the six group winners qualify for the final tournament. Eighteen teams have already booked their spots, including one Southeast Asian representative, Indonesia.

Turkmenistan currently lead the group with six points, while Thailand and Sri Lanka both have three, and Taiwan have lost both matches. In the third matchday, Masatada Ishii’s squad will host Taiwan at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

If both Turkmenistan and Thailand win their next three matches, Thailand, Southeast Asia’s top team, will need to beat Turkmenistan by at least three goals in the final round to be sure of qualifying for the finals.

Much like Vietnam, who suffered a heavy 0-4 loss to Malaysia in another Asian Cup qualifier on the same day, Thailand now face the risk of elimination in the qualifiers.