World Cup Qualifiers - Round 3
Australia v Thailand (Fri)
Oman v Saudi Arabia (Fri)
Thailand v Oman (Tues)
Saudi Arabia v Australia (Tues)
Thailand launch their Round 3 qualifying campaign against Australia in Brisbane on Friday, and follow that up with a home game with Oman next Tuesday. For Thailand to harbor any hopes of qualifying for the next phase, they'll need to collect 3 points from these two games. It's highly unlikely that the Thais will get anything from Suncorp Stadium in Australia so it will be vital that Winfried Schaefer's men beat Oman at the Rajamangala next Tuesday.
The last time Thailand met Australia was in Bangkok in the 2007 Asian Cup. The Socceroos won that one 4-0 and many of the home fans will be quietly confident of similar scoreline in Brisbane.
Division 1
Chantaburi v Bangkok United
Chiang Mai v Thai Honda
Only two games this weekend and both of them on Sunday. Bangkok United travel down the east coast to meet an on-from Chantaburi. The Hares have come out the traps quickly since the resumption of the 2nd leg and will start as favorites in this one.
A victory for Thai Honda up at Chiang Mai would lift them to the brink of safety as they'd only be one point behind 14th placed Customs.
Division 2 (Bangkok)
Thai Airways Luk Issan v NSRU (Sat)
Kasem Bundit v North Bangkok (Sun)
Thai Fleet v Mapthaput Rayong (Sun)
Raj Vithi v Kasetsart (Sun)
Nontaburi v Prachinburi (Sun)
Globex v Samut Prakarn Utd (Mon)
Bkk Christian v Thanyaburi Asia Utd (Mon)
Jamjuree v Assumption Thonburi (Mon)
On Saturday there is the choice of Thai Airways Luk Issan v NSRU and ermm......that's basically it. Nothing worth getting excited about!!
Thankfully there is more action to choose from on Sunday. A victory for Kasetsart at Raj Vithi would almost guarantee them a top 2 play off spot. However if Raj Vithi win, they would only be 2 points behind the Nagas with 4 left to play. For the third consecutive week Kasem Bundit entertain a promotion candidate. In the last 2 weeks they've lost to Kaset and SP Utd. North Bangkok will be hoping to complete an unwanted hat-trick for the Intellectual Light. Nontaburi and Prachinburi need to win all 5 of their remaining games if they are to have any chance of making the play-offs. They meet each other in Nontaburi on Sunday and neither can afford to lose this one.
There are 3 games on Monday, all of which are in Bangkok. Samut Prakarn face a tricky tie at Globex, but nevertheless they need 3 points to maintain their promotion push. The other 2 games are Bkk Christian v Thanyaburi Asia Utd and Jamjuree v Assumption.
I'll be betting on a bigger scoreline than that and be drunk cheering from the stands ThaRua style. Won't be doing the Heggie like pitch invasion though. 250,000 baht fine for that. More than the bonus on offer for the Thais if they do the impossible and WIN 555
ReplyDeleteThat scoreline was a little unfair on the Thais in 2007; they gave the Aussies a run for their money for 80 minutes. Too bad a football match lasts for 90!
ReplyDeleteLooking at the Thai squad, I'm not confident.If Australia get an early goal, the flood gates could open. I hate to say it, but I think we could be in for another 4-0. I hope I'm wrong though!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, it could happen. The defence just isn't good enough to hold out for 90 minutes.
ReplyDeleteAustralia -2.5 @ 1.70 looks a solid investment
ReplyDeleteI hope you didn't make that bet Costa.
ReplyDeleteI instead ended up having $30 on over 4.5 goals @ 3.50 after Thailand scored. Was a shit bet really
ReplyDelete