Jenjira followed up the goal with an assist for Mutita Senkram seconds later to make it 2-0 with little over a minute played and Thailand never looked back, romping to an 8-0 win to set up a quarter-final meeting with Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

After Thailand had struggled to find a way to goal against Indonesia in their 1-1 draw on Matchday Two, the 22-year-old said taking such an early lead was a weight off her team’s shoulders.

“Scoring so early was really important,” she said.

“It helped us to stabilise and we didn’t feel under pressure for the rest of the game. That helped us to follow our tactics for the rest of the game.”

The Bangkok local has been part of Thailand’s starting quartet – also featuring Mutita, Hataichanok Tappakun and tournament top-scorer Sasicha Phothiwong – in all three matches so far, and the group was pivotal against Hong Kong, providing the first six goals of the match.

In two matches in Bangkok, she has scored her country’s first ever goal on the continental stage, earned admirers with her skill on the ball and come in for special praise from head coach Maroun El Khoury.

In a tournament where many players have experience on the football pitch as well as the futsal court, Rachid has the distinction of having also played for the Lebanese national team in handball, making her a triple international at the age of the 23.

“Handball was a new experience for me,” said Rachid, who works as a teacher.

“This year was the first cup in Lebanon and we also had the West Asian Championship (in Jordan in February).

“We went and did very well considering we had just started. I like it, but I prefer futsal and football.”

Jenjira Bubpha put the hosts in front after just nine seconds, and Mutita Senkram added a second a minute later to effectively dash Hong Kong’s hopes in a match where Thailand’s starting quartet contributed the first six goals.

Udom Taveesuk’s side will now face Chinese Taipei in Wednesday’s quarter-finals, as they continue their quest to add the AFC championship to the Asian Indoor Games and SEA Games titles they won in 2017.

Thailand wasted no time in stamping their authority on the match, as Jenjira slammed home a loose ball after Mutita’s initial effort was saved and the pair switched roles a minute later when Mutita finished off Jenjira’s pass to make it 2-0 in just over 60 seconds.

Hong Kong needed to win to keep their own campaign alive, but the writing was on the wall for the East Asians when Saischa Phothiwong ruthlessly punished a heavy defensive touch by Yuen Hoi Dik Heidi in the eighth minute.

With Hong Kong defeating Macau 7-0 in the day's earlier match, Indonesia and Thailand knew that a second win would put them in a comfortable position in the race for a spot in the quarter-finals, and the hosts began brightly.

It was clear, however, that head coach Sumianto had done his research and Indonesia did well in keeping their backline clear of any danger, despite Thailand's continuous efforts.

In the 12th minute, Mutita Sankram came closest for Thailand when they reacted on a counter-attack and she sprinted down the right flank but her shot flew wide, while a minute from the half-time break Indonesia had a counter-attack of their own with Novita leading the charge but her strike was cleared by Pannipa Kamolrat.