BEC Tero 1-4 Chonburi - Match Report: 2010

TPL

BEC Tero 1-4 Chonburi

Thephasadin Stadium, Bangkok

Attendance: 2,842

Wednesday 14th July, 2010

Match Report 

Make no mistake, for the first thirty minutes of this match we were woeful. Passes were going astray, players were being caught in possession and, if it wasn't for the ineptitude of the home strikers - and a couple of good saves by Sinthaweechai - we could easily have been three or four goals behind. It was to take a moment of imagination from the returning Michael Byrne to turn the tide. From just inside the opponent's half the young midfielder spotted the keeper off his line and launched an audacious shot towards goal. The ball squeezed in under the crossbar. 

Delight all round and you could see the belief surge through the Chonburi team. We scored another two in the following three minutes. Byrne again slotting home after some good work and an inch perfect pass by Baga. And it was the Cameroonian who was to add a third himself when he rounded the goalie to roll the ball into an empty net in the forty third minute. A little harsh on BEC Tero but football is all about scoring goals.

The second half started with wave after wave of red shirted attacks. However, some gallant defending and three more top quality saves from the visiting custodian kept them at bay. At this point, the Sharks were happy to defend deep and rely on the quick break, which was a tactic that worked well. We really should have increased our lead when first Ekkaphan and then Benie - on as a relacement for Baga - wasted good opportunities. 

But the scoring wasn't finished. A lovely defence splitting pass from Chonlatit found Suree in acres of space down the right. The Thai international controlled the ball, steadied himself and crossed to Byrne, who had the easy job of putting it in the net. A delightful, and well deserved, hat-trick from a hard working player who will run through brick walls for his team mates, coach and fans.

There was one last twist in the tale when, in the dying seconds, Suree was adjudged to have brought down a BEC forward in the box. From where I was sitting, directly in line, it looked like he won the ball cleanly. The referee had other thoughts. Penalty! And, if that wasn't punishment enough, a red card!! A terrible decision and one which definitely took the shine off the result. It now means that the full back will miss the next two matches - the Army at the weekend and Muang Thong Utd the following Saturday. Hmmm...