Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Brisbane: Second-half substitute Alex Brosque scored a late winner as Australia came from a goal down to see off Thailand 2-1 and make a winning start to their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday.
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup runners-up received direct entry to the third round of Asian qualifiers while the Thais had to overcome Palestine in the second round and it was the visitors that stunned that seeded side when they took a 15th minute lead.
Teerasil Dangda, who was on target as Muang Thong United defeated Lebanon's Al Ahed 4-0 to reach the quarter-finals of this year's AFC Cup, silenced the majority of the spectators at the Suncorp Stadium by putting Thailand one up with quarter-of-an-hour played and the 23-year-old's goal separated the two sides until 13 minutes into the second half when towering Nagoya Grampus striker Josh Kennedy equalized for Australia with his tenth international goal.
The Thais looked to be heading back to Bangkok with well-earned draw only to see the Socceroos snatch all three points when Brosque, who also plays his club football in Japan having joined Shimizu S-Pulse from Sydney FC earlier this year, netted an 86th minute winner, 15 minutes after coming on for Tim Cahill.
Australia will be looking to build on their opening Group D victory when they travel to the Middle East to take on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday while the Thais also face Gulf opposition with the three-time ASEAN champions entertaining Oman on the same day.