BANGKOK -- It was a result that brightened the hearts of a grieving nation, while reinstating the swagger of its talented football team on the eve of their Southeast Asian title defence.
Thailand's stunning performance in outplaying Asian champions Australia in Tuesday night's 2-2 draw in Bangkok came as Kiatisuk Senamuang's side prepared to travel to Manila for the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup.
Their first earned point of the final phase of AFC World Cup qualification won't revive their faded Russia 2018 hopes. But it is likely to strike trepidation into the hearts of Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, who they face in Group A of the regional tournament, starting on Saturday.
The bold display at a raucous Rajamangala Stadium made front-page news of Wednesday's Bangkok Post, and is likely to be talked about for years, even after the low-key buildup to the match because of the passing last month of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thai authorities had initially asked for the game to be moved to another venue, and had only given fans permission to cheer their team earlier this month.
Thai supporters showed their respect by holding a candle-lit mourning event outside the stadium before kickoff, with players from both nations wearing black armbands.
But once the game began, the War Elephants showed the spirit and skill that their beloved, late monarch would have been proud of. They bounced back after conceding an early penalty to stun the Socceroos by taking the lead early in the second half when striker Teerasil Dangda completed his double.
Kiatisuk can take many of the things that worked against the Aussies, and implement them at the Philippine National Stadium. The bold 3-5-2 formation carried an element of risk, but after a nervous opening quarter of an hour, the Thais settled down to show their best form in more than a year.
Playing the super-sized Siroch Chatthong up front, alongside the more refined Teerasil, gave the Thais the attacking bite they had craved earlier in the third round of qualifying, having lost their previous four matches, while scoring just a single goal. Siroch almost grabbed a late winner when he went one-one-one with Mat Ryan, but the Valencia keeper made himself big to spare Australia's blushes.
The visitors were clumsy in their attempts to contain raw diamond Siroch, who plied his trade this season with second-tier Thai club Ubon UMT United. In five international appearances, he's yet to score a goal, but that surely will come in the next month in the AFF Championship.
Teerasil's natural gifts in almost a decade with the national team earned him a much-publicised loan spell with La Liga club, Almeria, in 2014. But this was one of his most memorable nights for his country, as he took his goal tally against Australia to three in his last three matches, having scored in the 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat in Brisbane in 2011.
With Teerasil and Siroch keeping the Aussie central defenders occupied, 2014 AFF hero Chanathip Songkrasin created havoc in his playmaker role. His defence-splitting pass that helped set up Teerasil's opening goal was world-class, leaving England-based Aaron Mooy and Brad Smith red-faced.
Thailand will also be heartened by the energy and output of wing-backs Theerathon Bunmathan and Tristan Do, who dropped back into a five-man defence when Australia had the ball.
It was Theerathon's cross from the left that started the buildup to the 20th minute equaliser. Do was the player who overlapped on the right to pounce on the Chanathip pass before Teerasil bundled the ball home from close range, past Ryan. Theerathon also earned Thailand's second-half penalty when he was chopped down in the box by Mathew Leckie.
Theerathon and Do provide the width that Chanathip can easily capitalise on, while doing their fair share of defensive duties.
Fatigue could be a factor as Thailand change gears from AFC to AFF, and adjust to different conditions in Bocaue, near Manila. Only four days separate their fifth World Cup qualifier and their first game in the Suzuki Cup. There is also the danger of a feeling of anticlimax, and a reduction in intensity.
But the Thais have too much class, and depth, to be concerned about not getting the required results to breeze through to the knockout stages of the Southeast Asian championship. They are, perhaps, fortunate that Saturday's opening game comes against Indonesia, who will be playing their first competitive match after the end of their year-long FIFA ban. The reality is that Thailand could probably rest several players, and still comfortably get past the rusty Merah Putih.
It is easy to see why the diminutive 23-year-old is reportedly moving to Japanese J2 club Consadole Sapporo, on loan from Muangthong United next season.
So, the stars are aligned for Thailand to win their record fifth ASEAN crown, surpassing Singapore with whom they share four titles.
And when the Singaporeans face Kiatisuk's men on Nov. 22, the Thais could well be back to their Rajamangala best, given time to properly acclimatise to their Philippines surroundings.
It is difficult to see anyone at the AFF Championship mounting a serious challenge against Thailand, who gave hints on Tuesday night that they are ready to take the next step in their global footballing evolution.