Saturday, June 2, 2012

Thai Port 0-1 Esan United

Thai Port slumped to their seventh defeat of the season as they lost 1-0 at home to Esan United.

The only goal of the game was scored after barely a few minutes when Wuttichai pounced on a Wanlop fumble to nod in on the goal line after the ball returned to him off the crossbar. The goal was greeted with virtual silence as only a handful of Esan wags (presumably) and two guys wearing pink shirts applauded.

Esan's top scorer, Tana, came close to doubling the lead a few minutes later when his shot shaved the top of the bar.

For the second home game in a row, Port's coach, Adul, made a double substitution in the first half as Bawe and Olan were hooked after 37 minutes and replaced with Alex Ruella and Kiatjareon.

The introduction of the pair of subs sparked the hosts into life as Munze got down well to palm Alex Ruella's shot around the post and Steven Robb had a couple of efforts that went marginally wide.

Esan United sat back in the second half and invited the Klong Toei side to attack them. For the most, Thai Port huffed and puffed without ever really threatening to break the Esan rearguard down. The closest they came to a goal was 10 minutes from the end when Kiatjareon fluffed a free header in the box after a cross from the right.

The game finished 1-0 as Ulrich Munze collected the hero to zero award of the day as he dramatically fell to his knees to celebrate Esan's victory. Before the game started, the ex-Thai Port keeper received a warm reception from the home support but his unnecessary keepie-uppies in the first half after a weak Thai Port shot, and a series of feignied injuries irked the Klong Toei Army. As Munze`left the field he gestured towards the fans behind the goal and then security had to get in between himself and Alex Ruella as the pair nearly came to blows.

The win moved Esan temporarily into ninth place and seven points away from the relegation zone. As for Thai Port, there seemed to be an air of resignation at full time as the fans slowly trooped out of the PAT stadium. Unless they make some good acquisitions in the forthcoming transfer window, it will most likely be first division football for Thai Port in 2013.

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