Australia had claimed four points fromtheir opening two games while Thailand were on three, meaning both sides onlyneeded a draw to progress to the quarter-finals.
In early moments of their match againstIraq on January 14, the video assistant referee (VAR) helped Thailand take anearly lead.
Thailand were awarded a penalty after thenew technology detected a hand ball in the box, which was successfullyconverted.
Iraq levelled proceedings four minutes intothe second half, but that’s the way it stayed, a satisfying result forThailand.
Australia topped the group also after drawing1-1 with Bahrain the same day.
Meanwhile, after two goalless draws,Vietnam are third in Group D. They will take on the already-eliminatedDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea on January 16.
The United Arab Emirates and Jordan will faceoff in the other fixture./.