Army Utd 1-1 Chonburi

Both sides had one man sent off as the spoils were shared between Army United and Chonburi.

When it was still 11 v 11

The first to go was 'Jackie' Diakite in the 12th minute after an off the ball incident involving Army's centre back Tanakorn.

Despite the man advantage Army couldn't grab control on proceedings as Sinthaweechai in the Chonburi goal was virtually a spectator.

The Chonburi stalwart was eventually called into action eight minutes before the break pushing a Nipol effort to safety after it had hit the inside of the post. Some Army players were adamant that the ball had crossed the line, although from my position, it clearly hadn't.

The play quickly switched to the other end and Chaiwat was then ordered off for hauling down Samuel Ajayi as the former BG striker was baring down on goal.

Chakrit stepped up to take the resultant free kick, and his deflected effort found the back of the net to give the Sharks the lead five minutes before the interval.

Just as it seemed that Chonburi were holding the upper hand, Army equalized deep into first half stoppage time. A lay off from Barakat cut through the Chonburi back 4 setting up Tanakorn to slot home the leveller.

Army upped their passing game in the second half as Chonburi seemed quite content to sit back and use the pacy bursts of Samuel Ajayi on the break. The Nigerian was a constant menace, but he just couldn't produce the goods in the Army penalty box.

Both keepers handled whatever came their way, with Todsaporn producing a save for the cameras as he tipped over a free kick from Chonburi's Arthit.

The fact that both sides played the second half with a player short of their full compliment, allowed for an open contest and a 1-1 draw was probably a fair outcome.

Chainat 1-2 Chonburi

Chonburi kept themselves firmly in the title race with a deserved 2-1 win over 10 man Chainat.

It was a fairly slow start to the game in the humid temperature with little to note in the first 20 minutes.

Thiago Cunha had been the most likely threat in the early stages and it was the Brazilian who opened the scoring in the 28th minute when he drilled home an Ifran Bachdim cross at the back post.

That lead for the Sharks lasted for barely a minute as the referee spotted an infringement inside the Chonburi box. Most of the spectators failed to see why he awarded a penalty, but the home crowd weren't complaining when Sumanya sent Sintaweechai the wrong way to level matters.

Chainat were dealt a blow in first half injury time when Tanongsak was given a second yellow for a lunge at Adul. The lack of protest from the men in pink suggested the ordering off was merited.

The second half then became basically one way traffic. Pipob should really have netted a diving header shortly after the break, and substitute goalkeeper Chalermkiat made a fantastic one handed save from Thiago minutes later.

The decisive goal came on the hour as Diakite rose majestically at the back post to nod home an Ifran cross to make it 2-1.

Therdask could have wrapped the game up five minutes from time, but the ball stuck under his feet inside the six yard box.

Chainat's 10 men never really looked like getting back into the match as Chonburi held out for a vital three points.

Man of the Match: Thiago Cunha - The Paolo Di Canio of Thai football

Chonburi win Kor Royal Cup after penalty shoot out

Kor Royal Cup Final
Buriram United 2-2 Chonburi (Chonburi win 4-3 on penalties)

A 95th minute goal from Ludovick Tatam with virtually the last kick off the game saw Chonburi come from two down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Buriram United in the Kor Royal Cup final. The Sharks then went onto to win the resultant penalty shoot-out 4-3 as they lifted the cup for the fourth time in five years.

The TPL champions started the game in the ascendancy and they could have scored twice in the first five minutes. Jirawat fired a shot across goal and Sintaweechai had to be alert to tip a Sumanya chip over the bar.

Buriram certainly were the better side in the opening period as they seemed to overrun the Chonburi midfield. The Sharks front two seemed isolated upfront as the league runners-up posed little threat.

It was no surprise when Buriram opened the scoring on the 31st minute. Theeratorn was given too much space to run through the Chonburi midfield. The youngster exchanged passes with Askar before his scuffed shot deflected off Diakite past the wrong footed Chonburi keeper, Sintaweechai. Teerathorn's shot looked like it was going wide and the goal should go down as an own goal in my opinion.

A couple of minutes later the lead was doubled when Frank Achaempong got his left boot to a Jirawat cross.

Chonburi had barely posed any shots on target, but they were back in the game as the half time interval approached. Adul pounced as Sivaruck's block with his legs fell kindly into his path after the Buriram keeper had denied Ludo.

The unwell Kazuto Kasido came on for the second half and with his arrival Chonburi began to improve. They held plenty of possession although they never really tested Sivaruk in the Buriram goal. Buriram meanwhile looked content to sit on their 2-1 lead as the clock slowly whittled down.

Just as the trophy engraver was getting ready to carve the letters "Buriram United" as 2012 winners, Ludo had other ideas as he swivelled in the six yard box to convert Chonlatit's cross.

The injury time leveller sent the match straight into penalties as no extra time was to be played.

The scoring of the penalties went: Jirawat (BU) miss, Diakite (Ch) goal, Suchao (BU) goal, Akarawin (Ch) miss, Theeratorn (BU) goal, Sukree (Ch) miss,  Prathum (BU) miss, Adul (Ch) goal, Ekwalla (BU) goal, Therdsak (Ch) goal, Ohandza (BU) miss, Kushido (Ch) goal

So it was Chonburi who lifted the Kor Royal Cup. For long periods off this game, that appeared unlikely. Buriram will regret not killing the tie off when they could have. Chonburi on the other hand will be delighted that they kept fighting right to the end. Next week both sides will open their respective TPL campaigns. I expect they'll relish doing battle again as the season progresses.