Korea Republic, 55th in the latest FIFA rankings, will face 70th-ranked Panama at the Cheonan Stadium in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, as the two sides meet for the first time in their national team histories.

The friendly against Panama is Korea Republic's last home match of 2018. The Taeguk Warriors are scheduled to face Australia and Uzbekistan next month, but both matches will be in Brisbane, Australia.

Four years after Korea Republic had pipped Japan to the bronze medal at the AFC Asian Cup 2007, beating them 6-5 on penalties in the third-place decider, the eternal rivals locked horns again.

This time, a place in the final was at stake. Doha, which had hosted the first-ever AFC Asian Cup encounter between the two sides back in 1988, was the venue once more.

Powered by J-League players Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerathon Bunmathan and Teerasil Dangda, Thailand added to the 1-0 win scored over Hong Kong on Thursday.

Against Trinidad, played in front of over 15,000 fans at the Suphanburi Stadium, retiring goalkeeper Sinthavee Chaiyathat Ratanakul featured for the first 15 minutes as he called time on his 14-year international career before being replaced by Chatchai Bootprom.

After a goalless first half, Thitiphan Puangjan struck the winner for Thailand in the 66th minute.

Thailand will play in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup 2019 UAE with hosts the United Arab Emirates, India and Bahrain for company in the January 5-February 1 extravaganza.

Photo: Football Association of Thailand

Speaking after the match which India could have won in the dying seconds when Farukh Choudhary was denied by China PR goalkeeper Yan Junling at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Constantine said he was pleased with the performance.

“We have shown in the last four years that we are a very difficult team to beat. We may not have the quality which some of the other teams in Asia have. But I stand for my team physically and competitively against any team in Asia. The boys were outstanding today.

The clash at the Al Kuwait Sports Club signals the start of a new era in Australian football, with Graham Arnold less than 48 hours away from the first match of his second stint in charge of the men's national team.

And Meulensteen said fans should expect to see plenty of attacking intent from Australia in the first of three important friendlies before the AFC Asian Cup 2019 UAE.

“We all are very keen to make a statement. I’m sure the players are,” he said.

Australia have not played since bowing out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a decision designed to give Arnold time to implement his new ideas and philosophies.

Suzhou: China PR and India played to a 0-0 draw at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

While India had a couple of chances to score, China PR dominated but failed to convert their superiority into goals.

China PR took control from the first blow of the referee's whistle, forcing India to defend in numbers.

However, it was India who had the first real chance of the match when Sunil Chhetri played the ball to Pronay Halder, who was quick to relay it to Anirudh Thapa.

Thapa sent a perfect pass to the overlapping Pritam Kotal but his shot was well saved by China goalkeeper Yan Junling.

Korea Republic, 55th in the latest FIFA rankings, beat No 5 Uruguay 2-1 in a packed Seoul World Cup Stadium for the Taeguk Warriors' first win against the South American side, having previously only drawn one of their seven matches against them.

Bento said although his players did well, they looked to be rushing in the closing stages of the match which was part of Korea Republic's preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 UAE.

"We played a good quality game," Bento said. "It's a precious win because we got this result against a great team. We know that Uruguay are a very organised team with experienced players."