BBCU 1-1 Phuket

2013 season kicks off

BBCU and Phuket opened their Division 1 campaigns by sharing a 1-1 draw.

It was a slow start to the game with the man wearing lime green dominating early proceedings with the constant use of his whistle.

BBCU took the lead midway through the first half when a free kick from the right was headed back across the goal by Bouba Abbo for Pichit to tap in to an empty net.

The away side levelled a few minutes later after Nene Bi directed the ball home from Sakareya's free kick

There weren't many chances in the opening half although Nontapan went close with a shot for Phuket before BBCU's opening goal was almost duplicated with Abbo's back post header finding Pichet once again, but this time his swiveled shot flew over the bar.

Following the break, Abbo's low shot missed the post by a couple of inches after the big man had jinked past a couple of Phuket players.

BBCU had a goal chalked off on 73 minutes when Phuket's Sato Yusuke was bundled into the net with the ball following a friendly shove from a BBCU player.

In injury time, BBCU's Boonyarit was shown a straight red card after aiming a softish looking kick at the newly introduced sub, Giorgi Tsimakuridze.

Giorgi gets a yellow before ref gives Boonyarit red

It ended 1-1 which was fair and both sides would probably have been satisfied with a point.

BBCU were solid and look to me that they'll grind out results rather than win by playing attractive football. Phuket still appear to be 'work in progress' while the coach works out what his best starting 11 and formation is. The pair should be challenging for the top 6 but I didn't see enough tonight to suggest that either will be promoted come November.

Attendance: 517


Man of the Match: Roberto da Silva (BBCU)  - Had a solid game at the back

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