Changing the manager had an immediate benefit for Thailand as it won only its second of 22 matches at the Asian Cup on Thursday.
Chanathip Songkrasin scored the only goal as Thailand beat Bahrain 1-0.
Click to Gallery
Thailand's midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, center, celebrates his opening goal with his teammate Thailand's defender Suphan Thongsong, foreground, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
Thailand's midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, second left, celebrates his opening goal with his teammates, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
Bahrain's midfielder Ali Al Safi, left, controls the ball against Thailand's midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, right, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
Thailand's goalkeeper Sivarak Tedsungnoen, foreground, saves the ball against Bahrain's midfielder Ali Madan, background, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
Thailand sacked coach Milovan Rajevac following Sunday's 4-1 drubbing to India and appointed his assistant, Sirisak Yodyardthai, as interim coach.
Thailand's midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, center, celebrates his opening goal with his teammate Thailand's defender Suphan Thongsong, foreground, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
Sirisak made five changes to the team which lost to India, and Thailand, which conceded four goals in each of its past two matches, managed to keep only its second cleansheet in its last 14 Asian Cup games.
It was helped by some wayward finishing from Bahrain which managed only three shots on target out of 15 attempts.
Thailand grew in confidence as Bahrain failed to translate its dominance into goals, and Chanathip broke the deadlock in the 58th minute after Tristan Do's cross was deflected into his path by Bahrain defender Ahmed Ali Juma.
Thailand's midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, second left, celebrates his opening goal with his teammates, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
Chanathip came close to setting up Thailand's second when he picked out an unmarked Adisak Kraisorn but his effort hit the post.
The meeting of Thailand and Bahrain on the pitch came a day after FIFA issued a fresh plea for a "humane and speedy resolution" to an extradition case involving a footballer that has been criticized by human rights groups.
Hakeem al-Araibi, a former international for Bahrain, was granted refugee status in Australia last year after fleeing his homeland, where he said he was persecuted and tortured. He was arrested while on holiday in Thailand in November due to an Interpol notice in which Bahrain sought his custody after he was sentenced in absentia in 2014 to 10 years in prison for allegedly vandalizing a police station — a charge he denies.
Bahrain's midfielder Ali Al Safi, left, controls the ball against Thailand's midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, right, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
"This situation should not have arisen, in particular, since Mr Al-Araibi now lives and works and plays as a professional footballer in Australia, where he has been accorded refugee status," FIFA said in a statement. "FIFA is therefore calling on all the relevant authorities (in Bahrain, Thailand and Australia) to take the necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Hakeem Al-Araibi is allowed to return safely to Australia where he can resume his career as a professional footballer."
Thailand moved into second spot in Group A, two points above the United Arab Emirates ahead of the host nation's match against group leader India later.
Group B leader Jordan was also playing later, against Syria.
Thailand's goalkeeper Sivarak Tedsungnoen, foreground, saves the ball against Bahrain's midfielder Ali Madan, background, during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Bahrain and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP PhotoHassan Ammar)
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talked to his team about being prepared to bleed as New England entered its first playoff game since the 2021 season.
Then, shortly after Milton Williams sacked the Chargers' Justin Herbert on Sunday night to secure the Patriots' first playoff victory in seven years, Williams celebrated with a head-butt of Vrabel.
It knocked the first-year coach backward and bloodied his lip.
“The big dogs come out in January. I think Milt took that to heart,” Vrabel said. “He came over and got me pretty good. But that’s what happens.”
Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter, and New England's defense roughed up Herbert as the Patriots beat Los Angeles 16-3 in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
Andy Borregales kicked three field goals for the Patriots (15-3), who hadn't won in the postseason since their Super Bowl victory to cap the 2018 season. They’ll host the winner of Monday night’s game between Pittsburgh and Houston in the divisional round.
In his playoff debut, Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards.
“We made plays when we had to do it,” Maye said.
He also threw an interception and lost a fumble, but the Chargers (11-7) couldn't capitalize on those turnovers.
New England held Los Angeles to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six times, with one of those resulting in a lost fumble that set up the Patriots' TD.
“It's on us, what we do. I've been saying that all season,” Williams said. “We can control the game. If we do what we need to do up front, we're going to win.”
This is the second straight season in which the Chargers have lost in the wild-card round. Herbert finished 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was his team's leading rusher with 57 yards as he fell to 0-3 in the playoffs.
Herbert was just over a month removed from surgery to repair a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand.
“There was no issue,” Herbert said. “I just have to do a better job holding onto the ball.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said his quarterback wasn't 100 percent.
“He’s a warrior. He just gives it everything he has, all the time,” Harbaugh said, acknowledging that Herbert was limited by his hand injury. “It’s an issue, but he doesn’t flinch, like a warrior would.”
The last time the Chargers failed to score a TD in the playoffs was their 21-12 AFC championship game loss to the Patriots during the 2007 season.
The Patriots drove into the red zone on their first possession of the third quarter, but the drive ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh and De'Shawn Hand recovered for the Chargers.
After Los Angeles punted, Maye connected on a pass to Kayshon Boutte that went for 42 yards to set the Patriots up on the Chargers 27. But New England settled for a 39-yard field goal that stretched their lead to 9-3.
Early in the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard pass to Boutte and a 13-yard burst by Rhamondre Stevenson to set up his precise 28-yard TD toss to Henry that put the Patriots in front 16-3.
The Chargers picked up back-to-back first downs to open their ensuing drive. But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.
Los Angeles had one final possession, but it ended with Herbert getting sacked by Williams on fourth down.
“It’s playoff football. It’s going to get ugly. It’s going to get nasty. But you’ve got to keep going,” Williams said.
The opening quarter had lots of action, but it took until early in the second quarter for the Patriots to end a scoreless stalemate.
With New England pinned inside its own 10 after a Chargers punt, Maye had a pass intended for Austin Hooper tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.
Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.
The Patriots took over and got some breathing room via a 48-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson.
Thirteen plays and a fourth-down conversion later, the drive ended with Borregales' 23-yard field goal.
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis left in the first half with a toe injury but returned. ... CB Christian Gonzalez left in the second half with a head injury.
Chargers: End of season.
Patriots: Host either Houston or Pittsburgh next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss celebrates after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, left, catches a pass next to Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) and carries it in for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97), linebacker Christian Elliss (53) and linebacker Robert Spillane (14) celebrate Williams' sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New England Patriots, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) celebrates a tackle in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings, rear, in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
