Thursday, September 13, 2012

Weekend Preview 15-16 September & Midweek Results

TPL
(Saturday)
Bangkok Glass v BEC Tero
BBCU v Police Utd
Osotspa Saraburi v Pattaya Utd
Buriram Utd v Thai Port

(Sunday)
Army Utd v Muangthong Utd
Chainat v Samut Songkhram
TOT v TTM
Esan Utd v Chaing Rai Utd

Muangthong have found the Army Stadium a troublesome venue and they've failed to win there on their previous two TPL attempts. In the early days of last season, Army swept aside the Nonthaburi club 3-0 as they marched to the summit of the league. This will be Army's first home game in Bangkok since August 4th when they lost 3-1 to BEC Tero.
The significant clash at the bottom is 17th placed BBCU against Police Utd in 15th. The Thammasart favorites will begin a series of seven home matches after this one and you feel a point may be satisfactory. For BBCU a win is essential and failure to collect three points would leave them in a perilous position.
The club sandwiched inbetween BBCU and Police are Thai Port. The face a tough trip to Buriram although they will be buoyed by the fact that they beat the current champions at the PAT earlier in the season.
Chainat perch just above the relegation zone and will see the visit of Samut Songkhram as a chance to pull away from trouble. With 19 goals conceded in their last five and only one clean sheet in their last 11, attack would appear to be the best form of defence for the Hornbills. 
Most of us have already written TTM off. The Tobacco Monopoly visit TOT who will be looking to bounce back from last week's 4-0 drubbing at Samut Songkhram.
Elsewhere, the unpredictable duo of Bangkok Glass and BEC Tero will either fight out a 0-0 stalemate or a 5-5 thriller. Three points for Pattaya at Osotspa would pretty much guarantee their top flight status for another season and likewise Chiang Rai Utd will be sharing similar thoughts as they visit Esan Utd.

Division 1
(Saturday)
PTT Rayong v Khon Kaen
Raj Pracha v Bangkok FC
Chantaburi v Saraburi

(Sunday)
JW Rangsit v Korat
FC Phuket v Phatthalung
Ratchaburi v Air Force Utd
Krabi v Suphanburi
Songkla v Bangkok Utd
Siam Navy v Sriracha

Realistically it's two from four as Bangkok Utd, Suphanburi, Sriracha and PTT Rayong battle it out to join TPL bound Ratchaburi in the top flight.
PTT are hanging onto the coattails of the promotion race and they would move closer to the top three with victory over Khon Kaen on Saturday.  On the following day, the other three sides travel away from home. Bangkok United and Suphanburi head south with trips to Songkla and Krabi respectively while Sriracha make the short journey down the coast to Sattahip to take on Siam Navy.
Zico issued a war cry a earlier in the week saying that his side will fight until the death to avoid relegation. The Bulligans remaining eight games are mainly against lower league sides with a trip to Raj Pracha providing the first of eight cup finals for Bangkok FC.

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

Promotion is now out of the hands of R-BEC and Samut Sakhon and all they can do now is hope that Rayong United and Kasetsart slip up. The pair in second and third have testing away games with Rayong Utd at Samut Prakarn Utd and Kasetsart at North Bangkok.
Thai Honda have already qualified for the playoffs and they'll be able to chop and change their starting 11 for their trip to Assumption.
With Nonthaburi already assured a dreaded bottom two finish, another loss for Central Lions at Globex would ensure that they join Eka in oblivion next year.


Toyota League Cup - Last 8 Second Leg
Chonburi 1 v 1 Bangkok Glass (BG won 2-1 on agg.)

BG progressed to the semi finals with a 2-1 aggregate win over Chonburi. Samual Ajayi's well taken goal a minute after the break was the crucial strike. Despite having the better of the match, Therdsak's late penalty was all the Sharks could muster as they bowed out of the Toyota League Cup.

International Friendly
Thailand 2-1 Laos

Teeratorn's late penalty spared Thailand's blushes as they came from behind to beat Laos 2-1 at a virtually empty Rajamangala Stadium. Laos took an early lead through Sopa Chaichana and smacked the crossbar as the underdogs held the lead for over an hour. Police United's Surachart pulled one back before Teeratorn netted from the spot after the Thais were awarded a softish penalty.
It was another unconvincing performance for the side show that appears to be playing second fiddle to domestic league and cup competitions.

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