South China 0-3 Chonburi: 2011

AFC Cup

Group H

South China 0-3 Chonburi 

Hong Kong Stadium

Attendance 3,629

Tuesday 10th May, 2011 

Match Report
by the-afc.com
Two goals from substitute Sukree Etae sealed a 3-0 win for Chonburi over South China at Hong Kong Stadium, a result that could see the Thais claim top spot in Group H of the AFC Cup. Following a goalless first-half, Ney Fabiano broke the deadlock on the hour mark before Sukree scored twice in six minutes to seal a fourth victory of the campaign. Chonburi were level with Persipura Jayapura on 10 points with the Indonesians playing in East Bengal.

The early stages saw an open game with both sides enjoying a number of attempts on goal without seriously threatening either keeper. Chan Wai Ho headed Au Yeung Yiu Chung's free-kick over the bar after 17 minutes before Brazilian defender Joel lifted a set-piece from a promising position over the bar. Three minutes later, Au did the same from further out. Chan Siu Ki then saw a snap shot from range whistle past Chonburi keeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattankool's near post while at the other end, Kaikaew Suppasek cut in from the left but his low drive from the edge of the box was gathered by Yapp Hung Fai.

The pace of the game slowed as the half drew to a close, although Lee Chi Ho saw an acrobatic effort pushed out from under the bar by the Chonburi keeper as the game ended goalless at the break. The visitors then took the lead on the hour mark. With the ball seemingly running out of play, Jetsadakorn Hemdaeng did well to clip a cross towards Fabiano on the far side of the South China box at full stretch and although the striker saw his initial effort blocked by a combination of Lee and Yap, he was alert enough to fire the loose ball into the net.

Kazuto Kushido tried his luck from distance but his shot never threatened Yapp's goal before Chonburi doubled their advantage in the 66th minute. Sukree latched onto a ball dinked forwards and chested it into his path before bundling his way through the challenges of both defender and keeper before slotting into empty net. The Thais claimed their third goal in the 72nd minute when Fabiano played in Sukree and he beat a defender before lifting a neat finish over Yapp and into the back of the net.

Anucha Kitpongsri then spurned a good chance to fashion Chonburi's fourth goal five minutes later as he drove towards the byline but with players lining up in the box, decided to shoot into the side netting instead. Substitute Mateja Kezman then saw his shot on the turn blocked in front of the line by a Chonburi defender before Sukree was denied his hat-trick in stoppage time when, after being sent clean through, Yapp managed to get something on his shot and Chan cleared from almost on the line.

Highlights