Weekend Review 19-20 May

TPL
Osotspa Saraburi 2-0 Police Utd
BBCU 1-2 Chiang Rai Utd
Bangkok Glass 4-0 Thai Port
Wuachon 1-4 Muangthong
Isan Utd 2-1 TTM
Chainat 2-1 BEC Tero
Army 2-0 Pattaya Utd
TOT 3-0 Samut Songkhram

A crowd of over 30,000 in the deep south watched Muangthong increase their lead at the top with a striking 4-1 win over Wuachon. The Kirins won courtesy of a brace of braces with Teerasil and Mario Gjorvski on the score sheet. Muangthong now have a five point buffer between themselves and second place, but more importantly they are 10 points ahead of reigning champs, Buriram United. However, Buriram do have four games in hand and they would move back to the top if they could win their make up games.

Bangkok Glass are up to second after they easily beat Thai Port 4-0 while BEC Tero dropped to third after their game at Chainat witnessed another bout of incompetent officiating. With the score at 0-0, BEC had an inswinging corner which curled into the goal, but the ball somehow burst through the side netting back into play. None of the match officials noticed that the ball had crossed the line as play was waved on. In the second half, Michael Byrne opened the scoring with a sweetly struck free-kick before Chainat doubled their lead with a late goal on the break. Cleiton's 98th minute goal was a mere consolation. I'm sure the call in the next few days from the public will be for foreign refs, but how about giving the Thai match officials some proper training. For example, instructing them where the correct place is to stand when set pieces are being taken would be a start.

Stefano Cugurra's Chiang Rai United side made it back-to-back 2-1 wins after they came from behind to beat BBCU in Muangthong. The other under pressure coach, Worawan Chitawanit of Samut Songkhram, saw his side humbled 3-0 at TOT. Whatever he said in the pre-match team talk must have fallen on deaf ears as his side were behind after only 32 seconds.

By TTM's standards, they were involved in a high scoring game but unfortunately for them they lost by the odd goal in a three to Isan United. Tana's penalty winner on the 90 minute mark moved the Isan club out of the relegation placings. 

Two second half goals from Osotspa saw off Police Utd while the same outcome happened at Army as the defeated Pattaya.

Division 1
FC Phuket 3-3 Air Force Utd
Chantaburi 0-0 Pattalung
Raj Pracha 0-0 Korat
PTT Rayong 1-1 Suphanburi
Songkla 2-1 Khon Kaen
JW Rangsit 0-3 Bangkok Utd
Ratchaburi 2-1 Bangkok FC
Krabi 2-2 Sriracha
Siam Navy 2-1 Saraburi

The top clashes of the weekend both ended in draws. In Rayong, ex Thai port man, Worawut, put Suphanburi ahead from the spot, but PTT levelled shortly before the break through Prathan.The four goals shared between Krabi and Sriracha all came after half time. Christiano Lopes appeared to enjoy scoring against his former side, but his joy didn't last as Gaston's 87th goal earned a share of the spoils for the Blue Marlins.

League leaders Ratchaburi ended Bangkok FC's 6 game unbeaten run as they beat the Bulligans 2-1 to remain at the top of the league. An early goal from Abbo settled the nerves before Chakrit doubled that lead on 72. Bangkok did net a consolation goal five minutes from the end.

Songkla stand on the periphery of the promotion race after a 2-1 home win over Khon Kaen. The T-Rex's league position now mirrors that of their weekend opponents as they perch a couple of points above the drop zone. BKK Utd kept up their impressive run as they enjoyed a comfortable afternoon in Nakhon Nayok beating JW Rangsit 3-0 with all three goals coming from United's foreign contingent.

Pattalung's new coach, Somreut Sermsuk, drew his first game in charge as the Chantaburi Hares doubled their points tally for the season with a point from the goalless draw. It was also 0-0 between Raj Pracha and Korat although I hear that the Swatcats were much improved and unfortunate not to win this contest.

Division 2 Bangkok
Samut Prakarn Utd 0-0 Assumption Thonburi
Kasem Bundit 0-2 Kasetsart
Luk Esan 1-3 Thai Honda
R-BEC 0-0 Krung Thonburi
Customs Utd 1-1 Bangkok Christian
Globex 0-0 Samut Sakhon
North Bangkok 3-2 Chamchuri
Nonthaburi 1-2 Rayong United
Rangsit FC v Central Lions

Division 2 Bangkok has new leaders as Thai Honda overtook Samut Sakhon after their 3-1 win at Luk Esan. Samut dropped to second as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Globex.

Rayong United scored a late goal at Nonthaburi to win 2-1 while R-BEC were disappointingly held at home by Krung Thonburi.

Kasetsart continued their climb up the table with an impressive 2-0 at Kasem Bundit and North Bangkok won comeback of the weekend as they came from two down to beat Chamchuri 3-2.