AFC Cup Eastern Athletic 2-1 Chonburi - Match Report: 2009

AFC Cup

Group G

Eastern Athletic 2-1 Chonburi

Tuesday 5th May, 2009

Match Report

by the-afc.com

Eastern Athletic kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the AFC Cup alive after Julius Akosah's late header secured a 2-1 win over Group G winners Chonburi FC on Tuesday. Ekaphan Inthasen fired the visitors ahead after 29 minutes but after Yang Xu's second-half header pulled Eastern level and Chonburi's Surat Sukha was sent-off in the closing stages, Cameroonian frontman Akosah struck to ensure Eastern head into their final match against Hanoi ACB still in with a chance of reaching the last 16. 

Eastern had the ball in the net after just six minutes but Wong Chun-yue had strayed offside as be broke into the area before providing the cross for Tam Lok-hin. The visitors, without the majority of their first team regulars with their place in the last 16 already assured, should have opened the scoring three minutes later as Mohamed Kone released strike partner Anderson but with only goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai to beat, the Brazilian rolled his effort past the post. But Chonburi made the breakthrough after 29 minutes as Anderson powered his way to the byline before picking out the onrushing Ekaphan, who fired low into the corner from just inside the area. 

After a slow start to the second-half, Yapp was forced to scramble across his goal on the hour mark to block Anderson's effort as the Brazilian looked to turn home Ekaphan's cross at the far post. At the other end, Eastern's Akosah looked to sneak an effort past Sujin Naknayom at his near post but the visiting goalkeeper comfortably made the save. With 20 minutes remaining Sujin almost handed Eastern an equaliser as he failed to hold a cross but Akosah and Tam failed to pounce on the loose ball before the Cameroonian sent a stooping header over from the resulting corner. 

But Eastern's spell of pressure paid off with 18 minutes remaining as defender Yang ghosted in at the back post to head home. Chonburi's Surat picked up a second yellow card with eight minutes remaining before Akosah sent a looping header over Sujin three minutes later to snatch a valuable three points and end Chonburi's 100% record in the group. Just as the final whistle sounded at Mong Kok Stadium, Chonburi's Suttinun Phukhom was also sent-off after clashing with Eastern substitute Yu Ho-pong.