Weekend Review 26 - 29 August

TPL
BEC Tero 3-0 TTM Pichit

As reported earlier on this blog, a Ronnachai hat-trick was the difference between the teams.

FA Cup
Sriracha 1-0 BBCU
Chiang Rai Utd 0-0 Chainat

A second half goal from from Christiano Lopes was good enough for Sriracha to progress to the next round. Chiang Rai completed a miserable week as they were dumped out of a cup for the second time in the space of a few days. The woodwork was to prove the Fighting Beetle's biggest enemy as they hit it several times during normal time. The TPL side then lost the penalty shoot out 4-3 to Chainat and for some people justice was done after the unsporting antics of Chaing Rai's keeper, Alonso Carvalho during the shoot out.


Division 2 (Bangkok)
Assumption Thonburi 0-1 Raj Vithi
Prachinburi 1-1 Thai Airways Luk Issan
Mapthaput Rayong 1-2 Jamjuree
Kasem Bundit 2-3 Samut Prakarn Utd
Thanyaburi Asia Utd 0-3 Nontaburi
Kasetsart 3-1 Globex
NSRU 1-0 Thai Fleet
Bangkok Christian 1-1 Nth Bangkok

Kasetsart opened up a 5 point lead at the top of the division. Their home game against mid-table Globex was a bit tougher than anticipated but Kasetsart eventually ran out 3-1 victors. Raj Vithi moved into 2nd place with a Friday night 1-0 victory at Assumption Thonburi as North Bangkok were held to a 1-1 draw at Bangkok Christian on Monday evening.
The game between Kasem Bundit and Samut Prakarn United was a fiery one. Kasem Bundit twice came from behind to level the score at 2-2. The awarding of a second penalty to SP Utd didn't go down well with the home side and they walked off the park in protest. After 15 minutes they were enticed back onto the field but were dealt with another blow when Samut Prakarn converted the penalty and duly held out for a 3-2 win. At the final whistle, the result proved too much for one idiot who had to be restrained by several security personnel from attacking the match officials.

Midweek Fixtures
Wed, 31st August
Jamjuree v NSRU (Div 2 Bkk)
Samut Songkram v Loei City (FA Cup)

Thurs, 1 September
Samut Prakarn United v North Bangkok (Div 2 Bkk)

The winners of this match will leapfrog Raj Vithi into 2nd place.

BEC Tero Sasana 3-0 TTM Pichit

A hat-trick from Ronnachai Rungsiyo was the difference between the two sides as BEC Tero won an captivating game at the Thephasadin Stadium.

thaileagueonline.com

A regular feature on my recent match reports has been the Bangkok rain. Yet again, it was prominent today as it bucketed down prior to kick-off between 4pm -5.30pm. The weather certainly altered the attendance as only 1,425 spectators turned up. From a selfish point of view, I was at ease with this since it allowed plenty of legroom inside a stadium that can get claustrophobic on big match days.

Both sides wanted to attack and the opening 45 minutes was a energetic affair. There were no goals before the interval but both teams had good chances. Thai Tobacco Monopoly's best chance was a Kim Joo Wong effort that rattled the bar while the closet Tero came was on 35 minutes when Ronnachai blasted over the bar from inside the box after good work from the pacy Gilbert Koomsen on the wing.

BEC Tero were unlucky not to take the lead shortly after half-time when a 25 yard shot from Binaware Ajuwa crashed onto the bar.

It set the tone for the home side and they rather fortunately took the lead on 55 minutes. A clearance from TTM wickedly deflected off Tero player, Ajuwa, and it landed perfectly for Ronnachai inside the 6 yard box and the ex-Muangthong striker was on hand to open the scoring.

The Tero hitman was on the spot two minutes later when a cross into the box wasn't dealt with properly by the TTM back 4 and Ronnachai duly made it 2-0.

The 2-0 scoreline was harsh on TTM. They had a few chances to get back into the game once they were behind, but Tero's keeper, Pisan, wasn't going to be beaten as he put in a solid performance between the sticks.

With 7 minutes left on the clock, the game was over as a contest when a slack backpass from Pichit was intercepted by Ronnachai and he rounded Won Yoo Kyum to complete his hat-trick.

The hat-trick for Ronnachai means he is now the joint top TPL stiker alongside Bangkok Glass's Sarayoot. Interestingly Tero have scored 27 goals this season and Ronnachai has scored almost half of them.

Overall, BEC Tero deserved to win, but TTM impressed and on this form they'll comfortably finish mid-table. For BEC Tero, they will view their next 6 games as winnable and if they can maintain this form, they'll be looking to challenge Bangkok Glass for 4th place.