Bangkok FC 2-1 Singh Tarua

A Tawin double gave the advantage to Bangkok FC in the battle for the third promotion place as the Iron Bulls beat Singh Tarua 2-1.

The away side had their noses infront coming into the game and it was they who set up with a cagey 4-5-1 formation. The opening half hour was fairly devoid of any action yet it was the hosts, playing with a more traditional 4-4-2 formation, who were more intent on making the breakthrew.

The opening goal came in the 32nd minute when Tawin neatly cut inside his marker and fired home from inside the box. 

Tarua made a double substitution at half time in a bid to bolster their attacking options. However, it was Bangkok FC who doubled the lead in the 57th minute when Lee Tuck slithered his way along the byline before teeing up Tawin to shoot home at the near post.

Within two minutes, Tarua were back in the game after Ali Diarra headed home a Leandro cross after the Brazilain's initial corner had returned to him.

The closest Tarua came to equalizing was a Sarawut header in the 66th minute which landed on the roof of the net.

Unfortunately for the 2,000 plus Tarua contingent, there was to be no fightback as Bangkok FC whittled down the clock fairly easily with a combination of stubborn defending and timewasting. The visitors ran out of ideas and resorted to hitting aimless high balls up to Leandro and Christen.

The 2-1 victory means that Bangkok FC move two points clear of Singh Tarua with three games to play. They only positive from today for Tarua is that they'd hold the better head-to-head record if both teams finished level on points. Bangkok have Rayong FC (A), Krabi (H) and PTT Rayong to finish. Singh Tarua now need to beat TTM (H), Nakhon Pathom (A) and Air Force (H) and hope that the Bang Mod side drop points in one of their three remaining fixtures.

Disappointingly, or somewhat predictably, the end of the game was marred with crowd trouble as both sets of fans were supposed to be paying respect to each other in the traditional Thai way.

Man of the Match - Tawin Butsombat: Match winning double

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.