Bangkok FC 3-1 Krabi

Two late goals kept Bangkok FC's TPL dreams alive as they beat Krabi 3-1. With minutes remaining, the Iron Bulls were being held 1-1 but a debatable penalty and subsequent sending off were to be the talking points of the day.

After last week's 3-0 loss at Rayong FC, Bangkok's promotion fate was out of their own hands and there was a sombre end of season feel to the contest as the match kicked off.

It was an even start to the game although it was Krabi who had the early chances with Anuwit and Somkid coming close.

The hosts first real effort came midway through the half when Tawin's drilled left foot shot across goal forced Anusorn to block with his foot.

The same duo were involved three minutes later when the goalkeeper rather recklessly brought down the Bangkok number 22 leaving the referee with the simple decision of awarding a penalty.

Lee Tuck took his trademark stuttered run up for the spot kick but Anusorn dived the right way to block his shot. However, Meedech was the swiftest to react and he knocked in the rebound to give the hosts the lead.

Inspired substitution

Krabi were struggling to get back into the match and they hooked Tanat for John Mary minutes before the break. The former Buriram striker made an instant impact as his rasping shot from the edge of the box landed in the back of the net.

After the interval, Bangkok were applying most of the pressure while the team from the south were looking dangerous on the break.

Tawin's header from a long throw went just over the bar and an Olof Watson shot hit the side netting as the hosts pressed. At the other end, John Mary couldn't connect properly as his shot 18 yards was saved by Worawut and Anuwit blazed over following a quick break.

The Bulligans thought they'd taken the lead shortly after Sam Danquah's arrival but his teasing cross was knocked tantalisingly back across the goal by Watson with the Krabi keeper stood rooted to the spot.

With time running out, Bangkok FC were awarded a debatable penalty. Whether or not Adisak clipped Jutarong is open to discussion, but the reaction of the Krabi players was rather childish. In the rugby scrum that swarmed the man in the middle afterwards, it appeared a slap was aimed at his head and Onuora was shown a red card. After about 15 minutes of heated argument on the touchline, the red card was given to Thaweephong after he appeared to own up. Lee Tuck could finally take his second spot kick off the afternoon and this time the Englishman made no mistake as he sent Anusorn the wrong way to make it 2-1.

Moments later, Bangkok should have had a third penalty but the referee decided to hedge his bets and awarded a free kick on the edge of the box instead. Tuck then gently rolled the ball to Watson and the Swede rifled home into the bottom corner to secure the 3-1 win.

There was double joy at the final whistle for the Bang Mot side when the news filtered through that Nakhon Ratchasima had beaten PTT Rayong. Next week PTT Rayong host Bangkok FC and a win for the Iron Bulls would send them into the TPL. 

Bangkok FC 2-3 PTT Rayong

Adisak Srikampang pounced 12 minutes from time to fire PTT Rayong to victory with the simplest header he'll ever score.

Bangkok FC looked on course for a victory as they took a 2-1 lead into the break, but two second half goals won an enthralling contest for PTT Rayong.

The home side made the perfect start, scoring with the first real chance of the game as Olof Watson headed home a corner. The ball certainly looked to have crossed the line despite a desperate handball by a PTT Rayong defender in the goal mouth.

Both sides had a couple of half chances to score before Meedech was penalised for an infringement on the edge of the box. Kirati was on spot kick duty, and he coolly send Beyeme the wrong way to level matters.

Amadou Outtara could have given Rayong the lead, but he hit the side netting after Jean Marc Beyeme had parried a shot into his path.

As the half time team talks were being prepared by both coaches, a corner from the left was flicked on by Meedech and finished by Tawin to give the Iron Bulls a 2-1 half time lead.

Bangkok could have had a third shortly after half time, but the ball got stuck under Watson's feet as he bore down on goal.

In the 52nd minute, PTT Rayong equalized when former Bangkok FC man Jozef Tirer curled a 25 yard free kick into the bottom corner.

Adisak was introduced well into the second half, and in the 78th minute he pounced to head into a vacant net after Beyeme had horribly misjudged a Tirer free kick.

Watson and Tawin both had efforts that went close while Lee Tuck's dipping drive forced Pinho into a save as the Oil millionaires held out for the three points.

I thought 3-2 was a fair scoreline as PTT Rayong edged it for me. They are now only one point behind Air Force and barring a melt down, they should be in the TPL next season. The only concern for them today was that both goals they conceded came from corners. Bangkok FC will always score goals, but if they continue to make mistakes at the back, then I can't see them earning promotion. 

Bangkok FC 4-3 Rayong United

Bangkok FC edged a seven goal thriller against Rayong United to move within two points of the Top Three.

A Lee Tuck double in the first 35 minutes appeared to have the home side on easy street. The Englishman's first came when he converted a rebound after Olof Watson had hit the post, and the second was a 40 yard free kick which nestled in the bottom right hand corner of the net.

At this point of the game it appeared it was just a case of how many the Iron Bulls would score. However, five minutes before the break, Naratip, in the Bangkok FC goal, spilled a Valci Junior free kick which was then knocked in by Prainet to give Rayong United some hope.

Five minutes after the break, Valci Junior was allowed far too much space to roll the ball into the net before Wuttiphan made it 3-2 to the Elephant Warriors. Naratip wasn't brave enough to block Wuttipan's run and his weak attempt allowed the Rayong midfielder the opportunity to put the away side into the lead.

Valci Junior could have made it 4-2 but he scooped over the target while Samuel Danquah's header clipped the top of the crossbar bar as the hosts pressed to get back into the game.

With about 10 minutes remaining, that pressure paid off when a long free kick was headed goalwards by Olof Watson into the top corner of the net.

The momentum was firmly with Bangkok and with three minutes left on the clock a low Watson cross was swept home by Samuel Danquah to win the three points for the Bulligans. 

At the end of the game, Rayong United would have been hugely disappointed to have scored three away goals, yet come away with nothing. I'm sure Bangkok FC would be delighted with the way that they fought back to win, but they will be slightly concerned at how easily they conceded the three goals.


Man of the Match: Lee Tuck - Another brace for the hard working front man

Thai Port 3-2 BBCU

An Olof Watson second half double from the penalty spot helped Thai Port come from behind to beat BBCU 3-2.

There were a glut of goals shortly before half time as BBCU took the lead twice within the space of three minutes.

Moussa Sylla burst through the home side's rearguard on 42 minutes to set up Salahudin to score. The BBCU midfielder's boot seemed to connect simultaneously with a Thai Port defender's as the ball spun into the base of the net.

Within two minutes, the hosts levelled when Alex Ruella got to the front post to knock a header over Pornchai from Ponpipat's free kick.

However, parity was shortly lived as Juninho's pinpoint low shot crept into the bottom left hand corner to give the Big Bang a 2-1 lead at the interval.

The game was won in six second half minutes when Olof Watson converted two penalties. The first was awarded on 58 minutes as debutant, Ri Myong Jun, was blocked in the box. The Swede duly converted to level the contest.

Six minutes later, Sarawut was tripped and the referee pointed to the spot for the second time. Despite intimidation, Watson held his nerve to coolly slot the ball into the same side of the goal.

The BBCU players and staff were clearly vexed with the penalty decisions and surrounded the match officials at full time. The first one certainly looked like a penalty but for the second, I'd have to see it again before making a firm judgement.

On the whole, I thought the Klong Toei side deserved the victory. New boy, Ri Myong Jun gave the home side that extra bit of cutting edge up front even though there seemed to be a lack of communication at times with team mates. BBCU's Juninho had lively bursts and if he can find more consistency over 90 minutes, then he might provide the spark to keep BBCU in the TPL.

The victory lifted Thai port onto 22 points while BBCU's 19 points meant they slipped back into the relegation places.

EDIT:  Having seen the replays of the 2 Thai Port penalty decisions on TV, I must confess that the second one was more convincing than the first one. Apologies!!

Thai Port 1-1 Army United

Army defender Alessandro Alves played a major part in both goals as Thai Port and Army United fought out a 1-1 draw.

There was obviously some bad blood left from the encounter a fortnight ago as the game burst into life on 20 minutes. Alex Ruella was the chief culprit as players from both sides got involved in an unnecessary bout of chest puffing. The over meticulios referee surprisingly kept his cards in his pocket as play eventually continued.

The best chance of the half though was squandered by former Kilmarnock and Swindon Town striker Danny Invincible when he miscued a header with the goal beckoning.

It was the home side that took the lead on the hour when Ruella set up Olof Watson to shoot past the stranded keeper between the Army sticks. It's debatable whether the strike would have gone in had it not been deflected off the unfortunate Alves.

Within seven minutes, Alves made amends as he was set up by his central defensive partner Chaiwat inside the box to level despite the unconvincing Wanlop getting a hand to the Brazilian's shot.

There was no real further action to report as the game predictably headed towards a draw.

The match stats state that Thai Port had more shots and corners than their guests but on reflection I don't really recall Kosin in the Army goal having too many saves to make. I'd say a draw was a fair outcome as Army extended their unbeaten TPL run to 10 matches to remain in sixth place while Thai Port stay in 14th just two points above the drop zone.

BBCU 1-3 Thai Port

Two late goals from Thai Port claimed a vital three points as they defeated BBCU 3-1 at the Rajamangala Stadium.

Jean Marc Beyeme, in the BBCU goal, had to be alert in the first 20 minutes to tip a long swerving shot from Thongchai over the bar, and then a free kick by the newly introduced sub, Alex Ruella, around the post.

It was then Wanlop's turn to be called into action as his foot blocked from Mongkol, and a few minutes afterwards he made an excellent low save after Jacob Aikionbare had neatly set himself up.

Shortly before the break, the goalkeeping baton was passed back to Beyeme as he blocked a Ba-We volley inside the six yard box.

The first goal of the game came on 59 minutes when Thai Port were awarded a penalty after an elaborate flick from Watson sent Sarawut on his way. With the advancing keeper approaching, there was only going to be one outcome as the pair collided at the edge of the box, and the referee duly obliged by pointing to the spot. Watson made no mistakes from the penalty kick to make it 1-0.

Within a couple of minutes the Big Bang levelled as ex Port striker, Jacob Aikionbare, knocked in a parried shot by Wanlop to level matters.

In the 84th minute, Kim Ba-We beat the offside trap to cut back for Ruella to score with a diving header.

The game was wrapped up three minutes later as as free kick from the left was knocked in of the knee off BBCU's Wiratrot to make it 3-1 to the Klong Toei side.

TOT 1-1 Thai Port

It was a point apiece in Cheang Wattana as TOT came from behind for a well deserved 1-1 draw with Thai Port.

Steven Robb's late inclusion in the Thai Port starting 11 was either a tactical piece of genius or a fortuitous piece of luck as the Scot opened the scoring a minute before the break as he turned in the box to finish off a neat pass from Olof Watson.

On reflection of the first half, TOT must have been bewildered how they went into the dressing room a goal behind as they had five or six good opportunities to score. Their chances either went narrowly wide or Wanlop was making routine saves look spectacular.

Thai Port appeared to be dealing comfortably with TOT in the second period, but that changed when Thai Port substituted their lucky piece of Scottish heather. Within a minute of Robb's departure, TOT levelled when a through ball from Takahiro via Bas Savage was flicked home off the outside of Thanakorn's boot.

From that moment on it always seemed a draw was the destined outcome although Alex Ruella's shot flew inches wide for Port while Pichit's long shot clipped the bar for TOT.

I'm sure when TOT review the attempts on goal stats, they'll rue the fact that they didn't win this game. If they'd had the craftsmanship of Diego Walsh, it could have been a different story as the Brazilian wasn't playing tonight. For Thai Port, it was a valuable point for them but with Isan United smacking BEC 4-0, it makes their encounter with Isan on Saturday a must for three points.