Bangkok: Reigning champions Thailand maintained their perfect start to the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 as they defeated the Philippines 4-0 in Group A at Thammasat Stadium on Monday.

Teerasil Dangda opened the scoring early on with a brilliant header and the veteran striker then found his second from the spot to make it 2-0 to the six-time winners before the end of a first half that the Thais commanded.

The tournament's all-time top scorer Teerasil then assisted his strike partner Adisak Kraisorn for Thailand’s third early in the second half before Suphanan Bureerat wrapped up the 4-0 win in the 63rd minute.

With their second win, Thailand went top of their group, level on six points with Indonesia, who defeated Brunei Darussalam 7-0 earlier in the day.

Thailand head coach Alexandre Polking made no changes to the side that defeated Brunei DS 5-0 in the opening match while full-back Simen Lyngbo and midfielder Arnel Amita were back among the starters for the Philippines.

It took less than three minutes for the duo of Theerathon Bunmathan and Teerasil to combine for Thailand’s opener as the War Elephants' captain's set-piece delivery into the box was headed home by the veteran striker for his 21st goal of the AFF Championship.

Buoyed by the early goal, the defending champions dominated the first 45 minutes and Kritsada Kaman had the ball in the back of the net from another Theerathon set-piece in the 18th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Two minutes later, Bordin Phala cut in from the left and rattled the crossbar before Philippines goalkeeper Julian Schwarzer was forced to produce a quick reflex save to deny Suphanan’s fierce volley a minute later.

Ekanit Panya met another quality delivery into the box from Theerathon on the half hour mark, but the Muangthong United winger could only direct his header off target with just the keeper to beat.

The War Elephants did get a deserved second in the 41st minute after Ekanit went down inside the box under the challenge of Amani Aguinaldo and 34-year-old Teerasil sent Schwarzer the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick to make it 2-0 for his side.

Teerasil turned provider for Thailand’s third in the 57th minute as he killed a ball dead from the right wing with an exquisite first touch and played it back across goal for Adisak, who netted his first goal of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022.

A fourth goal came in the 63rd minute as Bordin weaved past defenders into the box only to be thwarted by the Azkals backline, but there was no respite for Josep Ferre’s side as the ball fell for Suphanan for an easy tap-in.

Sarach Yooyen fired over an open goal in the 73rd minute after substitute Poramet Arjvirai had stolen possession from goalkeeper Schwarzer, but the Philippines avoided further damage despite producing very little in attack thorughout the 90 minutes.

Polking’s Thailand will now travel to Jakarta to face Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday while the Azkals will also face the Garuda in their next outing slated for January 2.