Handicapped by the absence of the injured Hardip Sangha in the midfield, the Indians looked rudderless in the crucial area in the first half, but bounced back into reckoning in the latter stages, taking advantage of an overtly defensive strategy adopted by the visitors.

But the hosts failed to alter the scoreline as their upfronters Bijen Singh and his replacement Alvito D'Cunha failed to convert gilt-edged chances.While an unmarked Singh's left foot grounder from just outside the box in the first half injury time was off-target, Cunha's brilliant 81stminute solo proved unproductive as he failed to keep the ball within the framework after dribbling past a couple of Thai defenders.

The Indians, however, twice managed to put the ball in, but saw the goals disallowed by the Chinese referee Yeduan Zhang on both occasions. While Bijen Singh, who headed the ball home in the 81st minute, was pulled up for infringement, SK Sanjib's push was disallowed as Indian skipper Dipendu Biswas was ruled offside.

The faster and fitter Thais showed the initial initiative, establishing quick control over the midfield. They built up their attacks with short, one touch passes and then made optimum use of the flanks to stretch the Indian defence. The hardworking and mobile Teerasak Po-On and Nirut Surasiang were particularly outstanding.

The Indians, on the other hand, scarcely used the wings while their midfielders played at a tardy pace, relying on square passes which allowed further time to the visitors to regroup.

However, the first chance of the day came India's way,but Bijen's left footer in the seventh minute was off-target.

The move seemingly acted as an elixir for the hosts, who secured two flag kicks within a space of five minutes, and AS Firoze's first timer from the second was smartly saved by Thai custodian Watcharapong Klahan.