Customs United 3-2 BBCU

Second division Customs United dumped TPL's BBCU out of the Toyota League Cup with a 3-2 win at the Forza Stadium.

Last season both sides were playing in Division one and at the end of the campaign they went in polar directions with one advancing to the TPL and the other dropping to the regional league. After 30 minutes of this contest, any spectator newly introduced to watching Thai football would have assumed that Customs United were the TPL side after they raced into a three goal lead against the Big Bang.

The opening goal was scored on 9 minutes when Pantree was alert to knock in a rebound after Pornchai had got down well to tip a low shot onto the post.

Midway through the half, Yoon broke down the left wing, cut inside and drilled a shot into the bottom corner to double the underdogs' advantage.

Minutes later Sutin raced from inside his own half far too easily and despite having options, he went alone to make it 3-0 to Customs.

On the half hour mark, BBCU were given a lifeline when the referee spotted a handball in the box from a Customs defender. The former derided Chonburi defender, Kenneth Akpueze, stepped up to take the kick but his low weak shot to the left was saved by Customs keeper, Nikom.

BBCU had started with a strong side, but they did leave their best player, Moussa Sylla, on the bench. He was introduced on 43 minutes and with his first involvement in the game, he pegged one back for the Pink Panthers with a side footed effort.

I'm sure the Customs coach would have told his troops at half-time to keep it tight at the back. However, within a minute of the restart he must have been tearing his hair out as the big Korean, Jae Sueng, headed a cross into his own net.

At this stage BBCU had the wind at their backs and it looked like they were going to storm back and win this cup tie.

A deep cross from Anurak hit the bar, Sylla should have been awarded a penalty after he was tripped in the box and Chainarong went close on a couple of occasions as BBCU tried to claw back the tie. It wasn't all one way traffic though as Customs still threatened on the counter attack.

At the final whistle there was barely a shrug of the shoulders from the TPL side as it was Bye Bye Chula United.

Customs were good value for their win against a relatively strong BBCU selection. As for the Big Bang, they can be proud of their fans as they chanted in unison throughout the game even when they were 3-0 down. It must have hurt them that they lost to a home support that couldn't muster a drum between them! Nonetheless, when the "Cheer Ball Thai" awards are dished out at the end of the season, I'm sure the Chula faithful will be right up there for an honorary mention. For me though, having grown up in the UK during the terrace culture prior to the invention of football by Sky Sports in 1992, I find their support rather robotic and irksome. That's just my opinion and I'm sure I'm in the minority here.