Jakarta: Indonesia and Thailand moved a step closer to confirming their places the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 semi-finals after playing out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Marc Klok put the hosts in front from the penalty spot early in the second half before Thailand’s Sanrawat Dechmitr was sent off. But the defending champions fought back and levelled through Sarach Yooyen to claim a point.

With Cambodia beating Brunei Darussalam 5-1 in day's the other Group A encounter, the result means Thailand stay top of the standings on goal difference ahead of Indonesia with both teams a point above the Cambodians with one match to play.

Shin Tae-yong made six changes from the side that defeated Brunei DS 7-0 on Monday, while Alexandre Polking made just one change from the team that beat the Philippines 4-0 with Channarong Promsrikaew coming in for Adisak Kraisorn.

Indonesia had the first real chance of the game in the 17th minute when Witan Sulaeman found Yakob Sayuri on the right and he delivered a perfect cross towards the unmarked Dendy Sulistyawan who headed wide from 10 yards out.

Thailand were controlling possession and had a sight on goal midway through the half as Theerathon Bunmathan’s corner from the left was headed over by Bordin Phala when he perhaps should have done better.

The hosts broke forward once more soon after when Witan beat Kritsada Kaman to the ball down the right and sent an inviting low delivery into the box which Egy Maulana was just inches away from connecting to.

And the Garuda then should have taken the lead seven minutes before half-time when Witan dispossessed Thai goalkeeper Kittipong Phoothawchuek outside the penalty area but with the goal at his mercy he rolled wide from just inside the left side of the box.

Indonesia did go in front four minutes after the restart, though, when Asnawi Mangkualam cut in from the right and fired goalwards only to see his shot strike the arm of Theerathon and, after the referee pointed to the spot, Klok coolly dispatched the penalty down the centre to put his side a goal to the good.

Shin’s team suffered a blow just before the hour when Egy hobbled off with an injury but just minutes later Thailand found themselves down to 10 men when Sanrawat – who was brought on at the beginning of the second half – was sent off for a late challenge on Saddil Ramdani.

Playing with a man advantage, the Indonesians could have doubled their lead with 20 minutes remaining when Asnawi played a neat give-and-go with Witan before firing over, and Sayuri then drilled a lovely volley just wide from a narrow angle as Thailand struggled to keep the hosts at bay.

But Indonesia were then made to pay for their misses in the 79th minute when Asnawi lost possession in his own half and substitute Adisak found Bordin who in turn found Sarach on the edge of the area and his effort from 20 yards took a huge deflection off Ricky Kambuaya and flew into the back of the net to secure a point.

Thailand will round off their Group A campaign at home to Cambodia on January 2 while Indonesia face an away date in the Philippines with both teams needing a point to book their places in the final four.