Sunday 30 March Review

TPL

Chainat 0-1 Singh Tarua
Samut Songkhram 1-3 Suphanburi
Bangkok Glass 2-0 Air Force
Songkhla Utd 2-1 Sisaket
Police 1-2 Osotspa Saraburi

Singh Tarua maintained their dream start to the season with a 1-0 win at Chainat. The travelling Khlong Toei Army had to wait right until the end of the match for their winner. Right back Watchara was gifted oceans of space on the flank to fire home a 25 yard shot.

Ratchaburi's 3-0 over Army on Saturday meant Tarua dropped to second over the weekend despite winning and closely behind the pair are Bangkok Glass. Two second half goals from Chatree helped them see off their plucky Pathum Thani neighbours Air Force.

Bjorn Lindemann's first return to the Army Stadium ended gleefully as his side saw off Suphanburi. The German scored Suphan's first with Jakkaphan and Bireme Diouf grabbing the others in their 3-1 over Samut Songkhram. The Mackerels are already five points from safety at this early stage.

Another side in relegation danger are Police United. They are third from bottom after losing 2-1 to Osotspa. First half goals from Jetsada and Chananan set the Saraburi side on their way.

Songkhla eased some worries as they won their first match of the campaign. Kayne Vincent cancelled out an early own goal before Adnan Barakat netted a late penalty to ensure Songkhla beat Sisaket 2-1.

Division 1

Sriracha 0-3 Ang Thong
Khon Kaen 1-0 Roi Et Utd
Krabi 0-2 Pattaya Utd
Trat 4-0 Ayutthaya
Nakhon Ratchasima 6-0 Phitsanulok

Nakhon Ratchasima established themselves as the top dog in Division 1 after thumping Phitsanulok 6-0. The crowd of 13,738 saw four first half goals by four different scorers. By this time Phitsanulok knew their unbeaten start to the season was terminating and a bad day at the office was complete when Korat added two more in the second period.

Ang Thong are close on the heals of Nakhon Ratchasima and they made no mistake beating Sriracha 3-0. The Chonburi based youth side are clearly out of their depth and have yet to register a point this year. Things are looking up for their provincial neighbours Pattaya after they recorded their second win of the week. Narakorn gave the Dolphins the lead before Krabi reject Christiano Lopes wrapped up the points in injury time.

Another side moving on up are Trat. Kendall Jagdeosingh was the chief tormentor of Ayutthaya in Trat's 4-0 triumph. The Trinidadian netted a treble while Labi got the other one.

Khon Kaen finally got their first win of the season after they beat local rivals Roi Et 1-0. There had already been three dismissals before Pitapong scored a late penalty.

Trat 4-0 Ayutthaya

Kendall Jagdeosingh inspired Trat to an eye catching 4-0 victory over Ayutthaya.

It took the former Chainat man only seven minutes to open his account for the evening. A foul in the box by Chompoo on Jagdeosingh was punished and the Trinidadian dusted himself down to convert the spot kick.

That was his first goal for his new club and within ten minutes he had his second following a splendid flick and twist around a flummoxed Ayutthaya defender.

The game was over as a contest shortly before the interval. A corner wasn't mopped up by Ayutthaya and Labi nodded in Pathomchai's cross to make it 3-0.

It was only a matter of time before Jagdeosingh completed his hat-trick and he did this in the 72nd minute. The match ball was his after he teed himself up to convert Santiphap's low cross.

In all honesty Trat could have won by a greater margin. If they keep playing like this they could be outsiders for promotion. A lot will depend on the form of Jagdeosingh. Ayutthaya just need to write this match off. They are still firmly in the promotion mix and getting Michael Byrne back on the pitch will boost their chances.

Match Highlights

Saturday 29 March Review

TPL

Chiang Rai Utd 1-1 Buriram Utd
PTT Rayong 2-2 Chonburi
Ratchaburi 3-0 Army Utd
TOT 2-0 Bangkok Utd
BEC Tero 1-1 Muangthong Utd

Ratchaburi moved clear at the top with a comfortable 3-0 win over Army United. Two first half penalties, one from Douglas and one from Heberty, gave the Dragons a two goal advantage. The contest was over by the hour as Assadin added a third.

The first TPL crowd with less than 1,000 spectators watched TOT beat Bangkok United 2-0. Goals in each half from Gong Young Sun ensured that TOT will finish the weekend in the top half of the table.

The remaining three matches ended all square and anybody exiting the stadium early would have missed some last ditch drama. Buriram thought they had won the points in Chiang Rai when Anawin gave them a 90th minute lead. However, three minutes later Chiang Rai salvaged a point via a scrappy goal. Kiatprawut appeared to get the last touch on the ball.

Jay Bothroyd is finally beginning to justify his inflated salary at Muangthong United as his 92nd minute header cancelled out Peerapat's low drive.

Chonburi maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign after they came from behind to draw 2-2 with PTT Rayong. Desmarets and Sanchez were on target to give the Rayong club a 2-0 lead at the interval. Chakrit pulled one back in the 71st minute and Anderson completed the comeback with a 94th minute header.

Division 1

Bangkok FC 4-1 TTM
BBCU 1-2 Phuket
Chiang Mai 4-2 Saraburi
Nakhon Pathom Utd 1-1 Siam Navy

There were two hat-tricks scored as the top half of Division 1 is now only separated by two points.
Bangkok FC are up to second after their 4-1 win over surprise promotion contenders TTM. Jae Min Lee gave the Iron Bulls the lead but they then had Ifran dismissed early in the second half. That sparked Valci Junior into life and the much travelled striker bagged a treble. He now is the division's top scorer with seven goals and he is closely followed by Mark Babo Landry. The Chiang Mai goal getter scored a first half hat-trick as Chiang Mai downed league leaders Saraburi 4-2.

Phuket and Siam Navy joined Saraburi, Bangkok and Korat on 11 points after their respective results yesterday. Wasan's 67th minute header was the winning goal for Phuket as the Islanders finished their match against BBCU with nine men. Chusana's strike ten minutes from time earned Siam Navy a point at Nakhon Pathom.

PTT Rayong 2-2 Chonburi

Chonburi scored deep into stoppage time to secure an unlikely point.

The Sharks started brightly but it was the hosts who took the lead in the
14th minute. The bounce from Yves Desmarets' shot deceived Sinthaweechai
and the ball bounced over the keeper's floundering dive into the net.

The goalscorer was involved in PTT's second goal as they doubled their lead
seven minutes before the break. Desmarets linked up with Sanchez and
the Spaniard's neat turn and shot nestled in the bottom corner of the
net.

Chonburi made a double substitution at half time
but it made little impact as PTT Rayong were comfortably holding onto
their two goal advantage.

However, that changed 19 minutes from time when an unmarked Chakrit halved the deficit following a corner kick.

Another corner from the same spot sparked the play for Chonburi's 94th minute
equalizer. A short corner caught PTT static and Anderson used his head
to guide home a whipped in cross from the right.

The 2-2 draw preserved Chonburi's unbeaten start to the season. For long periods
it appeared unlikely that the Sharks would salvage anything from this
contest. PTT Rayong must be bitterly disappointed not to have won this
game considering they held a 2 goal advantage until the 70th minute. The
two goals conceded from corner kicks must have infuriated their
coaches.

Matchday 6 Preview

TPL

Saturday
(18:00)
Chiang Rai Utd v Buriram Utd
PTT Rayong v Chonburi
Ratchaburi v Army Utd
(19:00)
TOT v Bangkok Utd
(20:00)
BEC Tero v Muangthong Utd

Sunday
(18:00)
Chainat v Singh Tarua
Samut Songkhram v Suphanburi
(19:00)
Bangkok Glass v Air Force
Songkhla Utd v Sisaket
(20:00)
Police v Osotspa Saraburi

The winner of the Ratchaburi v Army clash will leapfrog above Singh Tarua (albeit temporarily) to the top of the TPL. The fact that we are saying this after five matches shows how unpredictable and refreshing the TPL is this season. Ratchaburi proudly sit in second and remain undefeated despite a roster that has included away trips to Muangthong, Buriram, Chonburi and Suphanburi. That's very impressive stuff when you consider that they just avoided relegation to the first division by one point in 2013. Last season Ratchaburi failed to score a goal against Army and the Dragons will have to play close attention to Army's inform striker Tanakorn. The youngster has bagged five goals in his last three matches and is the joint top Thai goal scorer alongside Leesaw of Bangkok Glass.

After two games at home without a win, Muangthong will be pleased to be on the road again . In their two previous away matches this season, they've scored seven without conceding. BEC Tero have never beaten Muangthong in the TPL but they will be buoyed that the last three home fixtures against MTU have ended in 2-2 draws.

If the two aforementioned clashes end in draws, Chonburi will top the league on Saturday evening with a win at PTT Rayong. The Sharks are still undefeated while PTT have lost their last two after a promising start to the campaign.

The remaining two matches on Saturday are Chiang Rai Utd v Buriram and TOT v Bangkok Utd. The winner of the former match would most likely move into the top 6 while the top half would be the destination for the victor in the latter.

The early fixtures have been kind to Singh Tarua and on Sunday they'll make their first trip outside of the capital. Chainat welcome the Khong Toei Army and the home side will be hoping to turn their run of three successive draws into a victory.

It's been a pitiful start to the season for Samut Songkhram and they will play their home fixture with Suphanburi at the Army Stadium. They've lost four games on the trot and the objective now for them is to not get cut adrift at the bottom before they return to their regular home stadium.

Bangkok Glass will be strong favorites to dispose of Air Force while Police v Osotspa and Songkhla v Sisaket are tight games to call.

Division 1

Saturday
(18:00)
Bangkok FC v TTM
BBCU v Phuket
Chiang Mai v Saraburi
Nakhon Pathom Utd v Siam Navy


Sunday
(16:00)
Sriracha v Ang Thong
(18:00)
Khon Kaen v Roi Et Utd
Krabi v Pattaya Utd
Trat v Ayutthaya
(18:30)
Nakhon Ratchasima v Phitsanulok

The first division is also proving to be exciting with only one point separating the Top 6. None of them meet each other this weekend. Nakhon Ratchasima are the only one of the sextet to play at home. They face an undefeated Phitsanulok who are led by their former coach Reuther Moreira. Top placed Saraburi have a tough assignment at Chiang Mai but they'll be hoping that Chiang Mai's keeper keeps up his unimpressive run of form. Ang Thong and Ayutthaya travel to relegation threatened sides while TTM will be aiming for a repeat of last season's 2-0 win when they visit Bangkok FC. Siam Navy have won their last three matches 1-0 and they'll be satisfied if that sequence is extended to number four after Saturday evening's match at Nakhon Pathom.

In the mid-table. it's BBCU v Phuket while at the bottom there is a north-east derby between Khon Kaen and Roi Et. Pattaya will be out to build on their first victory of the season and a win over Krabi should elevate them out of the drop zone.

Toyota League Cup - Last 32 Draw

(29 April)
Ang Thong v Buriram
Siam Navy v Ratchaburi
Phuket v Police
Ranong v PTT Rayong
Ayutthaya v Osotspa Saraburi
Nakhon Ratchasima v Singh Tarua
Chiang Rai City v Muangthong Utd
TTM Customs v Samut Songkhram

(30 April)
Surat v Chiang Rai Utd
Sriracha v Pattaya Utd
Samut Sakorn v Bangkok Glass
Ubon v BEC Tero
BBCU v Suphanburi
Krabi v Air Force
Trang v Chainat
Bangkok FC v Chonburi

Matchday 5 Review

TPL 

Army Utd 2-1 Songkhla Utd
Osotspa Saraburi 1-1 TOT
Sisaket 1-0 Police
Suphanburi 0-2 Chiang Rai Utd
Buriram Utd 2-0 PTT Rayong
Chonburi 3-2 Bangkok Glass
Muangthong 1-2 Ratchaburi
Singh Tarua 3-0 Samut Songkhram
Air Force 0-0 BEC Tero
Bangkok Utd 0-0 Chainat

Singh Tarua's 3-0 victory over Samut Songkhram propelled them to the top of the league. A Leandro penalty gave them the lead shortly before half time and Kroekrit and Sarawut added the first non-Leandro goals of the campaign in the second period.

Ratchaburi are into second place after they stunned Muangthong with two late goals. Mario's 42nd minute goal looked like it was going to be the match winner until a comical own goal and a superb effort from Puwadol turned the table in Ratchaburi's favour.

Another late comeback was seen at the Chonburi Stadium as the Sharks overturned a 2-1 deficit against Bangkok Glass. In the 90th minute, Chakrit curled a free kick into the top corner to level and Thiago's header in the 95th minute completed the turnaround.

Tanakorn's late winner for Army wasn't as dramatic but it was still a vital three points for the Boys in Green. Vincent gave Songkhla an early advantage but two goals from Tanakorn won it for Army. Army are now fourth in the table and Tanakron is the joint top Thai goal scorer in the TPL.

Elsewhere 2-0 wins for Buriram and Chiang Rai United moved them into the top half and Sisaket's 1-0 over Police saw them leap out of the relegation placings all the way into tenth position. Osotspa still can't buy a win at the Rajamangala Stadium as a late goal by TOT denied them three points, and there were stalemates between Air Force v BEC Tero and Bangkok United v Chainat.

Division 1

Pattaya Utd 2-0 TTM
Roi Et Utd 2-3 Bangkok FC
Saraburi 3-0 BBCU
Ang Thong 1-0 Krabi
Ayutthaya 2-0 Khon Kaen
Phuket 2-1 Sriracha
Siam Navy 1-0 Trat
Phitsanulok 2-1 Chiang Mai
Nakhon Ratchasima 0-0 Nakhon Pathom Utd

The top versus bottom clash went against the grain as Pattaya United defeated TTM 2-0. Pattaya moved off the foot of the table while TTM dropped to fifth.
The team now at the top of the pile are Saraburi. They staged a late rally to beat BBCU 3-0. Korat would have been pleased to have kept another clean sheet but at the same time their failure to beat Nakhon Pathom will be regarded as two points dropped. The Swatcats are in second and they are one place above Ayutthaya. The Ancient Warriors are slowly moving through the gears and goals from Berlin and Sanchez helped them beat Khon Kaen 2-0.
There are three other sides tied with Ayutthaya on ten points. 1-0 wins for Ang Thong and Siam Navy leave them firmly in the promotion picture and as mentioned earlier, TTM are the other side on ten points.
Phitsanulok ended their four match drawing sequence with a 2-1 home success over Chiang Mai. A late goalkeeping misjudgement from a corner by Narathip allowed Supakorn to knock home the winner.
In the remaining clashes, Bangkok FC won 3-2 at Roi Et United while Phuket defeated Sriracha 2-1.

Army United 2-1 Songkhla United

Tanakorn's second brace of the week helped Army United come from behind to beat Songkhla United 2-1.

In the fourth minute, the Fighting Bulls took the lead when a lobbed threw ball by Barakat wasn't dealt with by the Army defence. Vincent latched onto the end of it and knocked it over the keeper into the net.

The home side equalised four minutes before the interval. Mongkol's header from a corner was cleared by the defender at the back post but unfortunately for him, Tanakorn was on hand to tuck home the rebound.

The winning goal came two minutes into injury time. A ball into the six yard box pin balled off three Songkhla defender before Tanakorn delightfully smashed in the winner.

Overall it was an entertaining match with plenty of chances. Army certainly had the majority of them and they were rewarded for their perseverance at the end.

Thai FA Cup Draw

The draw was made yesterday for Division 1 and the remaining regional league clubs.

Ayutthaya v Rangsit FC
Wang Man Subdistrict v Phuket
Yingcharoen v Muangkan Utd
Nakhon Ratchasima v Pattani
Chantaburi v Trat
Sa Kaeo v Mukdahan City
Trang v IPE Samut Sakhon
Globex v Sriracha
Pattaya Utd v Bangkok FC
Ratchapruek College v Samut Sakhon
Seeker v Luk Tapfah
Khon Kaen v Krabi
Chiang Mai v Chin Sport Association
Raj Pracha v Lampang
RBAC v Cadanza Pattaya
Maptaphut Marine v Thai Honda
Tha Chang Krung Gao v Ang Thong
Prachuap v Phitsanulok
BBCU v Prachinburi Utd
Nakhon Nayok v Rangsit Uni
Nakhon Pathom Utd v Wongchaowalitkul Uni
TTM Customs v Customs Utd
Pathum Thani Utd v Saraburi
Pluak Daeng Rayong Utd v Siam Navy

Ties to be played on the 2&9 April

Matchday 5 Fixtures

TPL 

18:00
Army Utd v Songkhla Utd
Osotspa Saraburi v TOT
Sisaket v Police
Suphanburi v Chiang Rai Utd
19:00
Buriram Utd v PTT Rayong
Chonburi v Bangkok Glass
Muangthong v Ratchaburi
Singh Tarua v Samut Songkhram
20:00
Air Force v BEC Tero
Bangkok Utd v Chainat

Some stats after four matches:

• Muangthong, BEC Tero, Ratchaburi, Singh Tarua and Chonburi are all unbeaten
• Samut Songkhram, Songkhla and Air Force have yet to taste victory
• Muangthong are the highest goal scorers and they have the equal tightest defence. Songkhla hold the opposite record. 
• Games involving Police have produced the most goals with 16 in total.  Osotspa has the least with only 7
• Leandro Luz tops the goalscorers list and has scored every one of Singh Tarua's six goals.
• The highest attendance to date is 22,834 for Buriram v Ratchaburi. The stadium with the biggest capacity produced the smallest with 1,334 turning up for Osotspa v Bangkok United.

Division 1

16:00
Pattaya Utd v TTM
Roi Et Utd v Bangkok FC
Saraburi v BBCU
18:00
Ang Thong v Krabi
Ayutthaya v Khon Kaen
18:30
Phuket v Sriracha
Siam Navy v Trat
19:00
Phitsanulok v Chiang Mai
Nakhon Ratchasima v Nakhon Pathom Utd

• Six sides remain undefeated in Division 1. They are TTM, Nakhon Ratchasima, BBCU, Saraburi, Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok.
• Phitsanulok have also failed to win a game after four successive draws. Other sides yet to gather maximum points are Khon Kaen, Sriracha and Pattaya. In fact the latter two have yet to collect a single point.
• BBCU are the highest scores in the league with 9 and they also have the top scorer in Julius Oiboh.
• BBCU games have produced a high of 15 goals while Phuket matches have only mustered 4.
• Pattaya have the worst defensive record and they are the lowest scorers. Christiano Lopes has scored both of them.
• 11,385 for Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai is the most spectators to watch a first division match while 450 at Sriracha v Ayutthaya is the least.

Please note that all fixtures will be played on Wednesday 26 March.