Round One
Nakorn Ratchasima 4-1 Tak
National Football Centre, Nong Jork
1st July, 2009
An emphatic win for a very impressive Korat side. This was my first chance to see the Swat Cats this season and I certainly liked what I saw. Crisp passing, lots of movement off the ball, all players looking comfortable in possession and lots of variation. Just the way I think football should be played.
Both teams started brightly in the searing heat but it was Korat who looked the more dangerous from the off. Attacking mainly through the centre they were causing havoc in the Tak defence and it was only thanks to a post and some desperate defending that the scoreline remained blank.
The second half saw the introduction of leading scorer, Promphong, for Korat. I've heard great reports about this lad so I was looking forward to seeing him play. He looks an unlikely hero but I wasn't to be disappointed.
With the impressive Artorn marauding down the right wing, and the bulky Njoya down the left, the corner count started to grow. So too did the number of efforts on goal. Therefore it came as no surprise when, guess who, scored the opener. It was a scrappy finish - the ball was hit straight at the keeper, who fumbled it over the line - but the fifty or so visiting Korat fans didn't care as they launched into joyous celebrations on the touchline.
Once the breakthrough came there was only ever going to be one winner. The northeasterners poured forward with menace and Promphong soon added to his impressive tally with a sweet shot from just outside the box which looped into the top corner.
Tak were really struggling now and the players heads visibly dropped. With about ten minutes remaining, Promphong turned provider with a lovely little through ball which gave his strike partner the easy job of slotting the ball home. 3-0, job done.
However, there was to be a slight sting in the tail. A hopeful long punt up field was chased by a Tak striker. Out came Korat's stand in keeper and made a real mess of a simple catch, bundling the onrushing forward to the ground in the process. The ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. 3-1.
Sensing an unlikely comeback the yellow shirts attacked in numbers and were unlucky to see a right wing shot just graze the bar. From the resultant goal kick, Promphong received the ball outside the opponents penalty area. He side stepped first a defender and then the keeper before rolling the ball home to make it 4-1. A cool finish from a natural goalscorer.
I really enjoyed my first taste of FA Cup action. There was an obvious gulf in class between the two teams but all the players deserve enormous credit for providing such an entertaining game in such oppressive heat. It was bad enough standing watching!
Ref Watch - Had little to do in the way of making big decisions but handled the game very well.
Strecher Count - I can't remember a single stretcher being used. Although the trainers came on a couple of times.
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