Pipat, who scored in both legs of the 2007 ASEAN Football Federation Championship where Thailand finished runners-up to Singapore, struck five minutes from the interval after China keeper Li Lei Lei parried a blistering Tawan Sripan drive into the path of the BEC Tero striker.

The match was a contrast in styles with the physical power of the Chinese up against the skill and speed of the Thais and it was the former that had the first chance to break the deadlock.

With eight minutes on the clock Cao Yang leapt above the Thai defence to head goalwards only for Kosin Hathairattanakool, the only keeper from the AFF Championship squad to be called up for the friendly, to block the Tianjin Teda defender's effort.

Thailand hadn't beaten China since 1990 when they recorded a narrow 1-0 victory in the Asian Games in Beijing having claimed an impressive 4-2 win in the King's Cup in Bangkok earlier in the same year.

But they were on the way to changing that statistic as Pipat struck in the 40th minute after Tawan and Jakkrit Bunkham had seen earlier efforts saved.

Thailand, who kick-off the 14th edition of the Asian Cup against Iraq at the same venue on July 7, had every reason to approach the second half with confidence but they were dealt a massive blow when inspirational midfielder Therdsak Chaiman was carried off just 49 minutes into his return to international football after a lengthy absence.

The loss of Therdsak - dubbed locally as the 'Thai Zidane' - seemed to knock the home side out of their stride somewhat.

However, except for a 51st minute free-kick from substitute Jiang Kun, who came on for Sheffield United's Li Tie, China never really fashioned any clear cut chances and the Thais were good value for their victory.

The three-time ASEAN champions continue their preparations for the forthcoming Asian Cup when they entertain the Netherlands on June 6, four days after China meet the USA in San Jose.