Tuesday, August 21, 2012

TLC Last 16 - Preview

Thai Port v Muangthong Utd
Bangkok Glass v Chiang Rai Utd
Suphanburi v BEC Tero
TOT v TTM
Ratchaburi v Pattaya Utd
Pattani v Wuachon Utd
Samut Prakarn Utd v Buriram Utd
Customs Utd v Chonburi

All ties above are set to be played on Wednesday. The romantics amongst us will turn their attention towards the three regional league sides as they bid to cause a major upset. Last season, Phatthalung of the second division made it all the way to the semi finals of this competition before eventually falling to Thai Port. The trio of regional league sides will be aiming to emulate the Swiftlets feat of 2011.
The two clubs from the Bangkok region have drawn the plum ties with Buriram visiting Samut Prakarn United and Chonburi checking in at Customs. Last week the contest between the latter pair was switched to Ayutthaya 100 km away. Thankfully sensibility has prevailed after murmurings of disapproval were echoed by the traveling fans, so the tie will be played at Lat Krabang 54 as originally scheduled.  
Wuachon head down the coast to neighboring province, Pattani. The Queen Cannons are unbeaten at home in the league which indicates that the Fighting Bull is in for a tough ride at the Rainbow Stadium - I'm honestly not making these names up :)
The two remaining Division 1 sides, Ratchaburi and Suphanburi will be able to test their top flight credentials with TPL opposition visiting them. The Dragons host Pattaya while Suphanburi welcome BEC Tero. On current form, I'd expect to see at least one of the first division sides advance.
The pick of the three all TPL matches has to be Thai Port v Muangthong. The Port Lions have an abysmal recent record against the current TPL leaders, and to make the task even more difficult, they'll be without the services of a trio of MTU loanees.
That leaves us with Bangkok Glass v Chiang Rai Utd and TOT v TTM.
Predicting Bangkok Glass results is nigh on impossible yet I'm sure the Leo faithful would anticipate their favorites progressing over Chiang Rai Utd. TOT will start as favorites for their tie with TTM.

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