Chonburi 5-1 Muang Thong Utd - Match Report by Peter Reeves: 2018

League Cup - Round 2

Chonburi 5-1 Muang Thong Utd

Chonburi Stadium

Attendance: 4,633

Wednesday 11th July, 2018

 

Match report

by Peter Reeves

Even Paul the Octopus would have a hard time predicting what is going to happen next down Chonburi way. Some insane score lines and awful performances, and in town tonight, in the League Cup, Muangthong Utd. I’m not sure exactly why everyone seems to dislike them so much, but the feeling 'on the streets' is - put one over on them.

 

It was nice to see a slightly larger crowd, supplemented by about 250 travelling fans, as expectant as all of us. What's going to happen tonight? It's almost certain something will. Paul has his tentacles over his eyes!

 

For the first 20 minutes, the visitors dominated possession, as Chonburi seemed loathe to have a go at them. On 8, though, a Sharks break, but too many passes approaching goal and the chance was gone.

 

Ten minutes later we saw a good save by the vulnerable looking home keeper, Tanachai, but the Blues were getting into it a bit, as they realised there was nothing to be afraid of.

 

I did wonder why, given that Heberty is the visitors’ most dangerous player, he seemed to take the corners and free kicks and why he wasn't in the box where he could do damage? I suppose there had to be a reason.

 

On 29, a Muangthong free kick into the box, a poor attempt to claim it by Tanachai and it was poked in. 0-1. Seemed about right at the time. Poor goalkeeping.

 

A couple of minutes later, Heberty ran through the defence and scored but was deemed offside. He wasn't. So a lucky escape for the Sharks. (This incident prompted a bizarre response from the Muang Thong bench. The assistant coach/translator spent the next five minutes making that ridiculous VAR TV screen gesture, like a manic Lionel Blair. Unfortunately for him - and perhaps fortunately for us - the system wasn’t being used for the match. What was he hoping to achieve? - ed)

 

Chonburi were having joy down the left and had got through a couple of times. Just before the break, they broke through again and after a few stumbles, Matheus put it in off the bar.

 

Half time, 1-1, and about right, though Chonburi were beginning to look like they could win.

 

They started the second half in the same way they’d ended the first and on 57 minutes, a corner was played in to the box. The visitors’ defence stood and watched, as Mattheus planted a header in unchallenged, 2-1.

Surely there’d be a response from Muangthong. No.

 

Three minutes later, a harmless looking attack and the sleeping Muangthong keeper was beaten at his near post by Saharat’s shot. Poor goalkeeping and bad defending. Nothing to worry about here for Chonburi so the home team poured forward and Ciro hit the post on 66.

 

In the last quarter of an hour, the visitors seemed to realize they were allowed to attack and forced a good save from Tanachai.

 

However, it didn’t stop the blue tide as moments later, Mattheus again battered his way into the penalty area on the left and crashed in another. 4-1. And a hat-trick for the big striker.

 

The octopus has collapsed!

 

But where, oh where was the Kirin’s defence?

 

They did have another chance four minutes from time when Heberty smashed the bar, but it was over by then. Although there was still time for Bajram Nebihi to add a final blow. The Kosovan was allowed all the time and space he needed to weave into the box, get down to the byline and still squirm back to poke it in for 5-1.

 

Chonburi fans very happy and rightly so. They’d seen their team give their much vaunted opposition a right royal battering and played well.

 

Muangthong? Well I don't get to see them very often, but if this is it, good heavens! No defensive shape, no commitment, don't close down, and seem to leave everything to the left winger or  Heberty. It was a very poor showing. I can't think that the travelling fans would have been very impressed. Obviously they are not this bad every week, but the Sharks won't mind. A good win in a competition that is opening up for them, as some big names fall.

 

As long as they avoid Buriram Utd in the draw, they could go all the way. Great for the fans who put up with so much. Great for the club who need some good will.