TPL
Chiang Rai Utd 1-1 Chonburi
The United Stadium
Attendance: 6,416
Sunday 27th July, 2014
Match report
ONE POINT GAINED OR TWO POINTS DROPPED?
One Point Gained
Going into last night's match, Chiang Rai Utd had a home record that read:
P12 W7 D4 L1 F22 A11 Pts25
Their only defeat came in the season opener against Bangkok Glass, meaning they had gone 11 games unbeaten at the United Stadium. Therefore, I believe a point is a good return from a potentially tricky fixture.
After falling behind in the 69th minute, I feared the worst - especially as it was the result of such poor defending. However, once again our fighting qualities were on show and we were back on level terms just five minutes later. All credit to the lads for not letting their heads go down and maintaining our long unbeaten run.
With Muang Thong Utd losing for the second match running - this time against Bangkok Glass - the point we won has taken us above them. Obviously three points would have been better but I think most Chonburi fans would have taken these two results - if offered - before kick off.
The pressure associated with a winning run of six consecutive league matches has now been lifted. Gaining a well earned draw against a team with such an impressive home record - and who sit in fifth place in the TPL - is not necessarily a bad thing. It's a little bit like taking a breather before getting back to winning ways in impressive style against basement side Samut Songkhram next Saturday. (Oh, how I hope these words don't come back to bite me on the behind!).
The point earned in Chiang Rai means we have now taken 21 points out of a possible 27 from the last nine matches - not a bad return by anyone's standards. If you'd have told me we'd have had such impressive figures after the abysmal defeat to Bangkok Utd at the beginning of June, I would have laughed you out of town!
Two Points Dropped
We were brimming with confidence going into this fixture, following a run of seven straight wins in all competitions. We'd also kept four clean sheets in a row and our talismanic striker had scored in each of the last five matches. Surely three points were there for the taking.
In their last match, Chiang Rai Utd had been hammered 5-0 by Buriram Utd. With their confidence in tatters, the last thing they would want would be a game against high flying Chonburi. They must have been dreading it and we should have got at them early...ahem...doors.
We beat them twice at their place last season; 4-3 in the league and 6-5 on penalties in the League Cup (Yes, that counts!). Psycholigical advantage to Chonburi.
Overall, I thought we were the better side on the night. We certainly created far more clear cut chances and should really have scored three or four. On the other hand, I felt Chiang Rai Utd offered very little in terms of any real threat. Even their goal was the result of some poor defending (Chonlatit) and had a slice (literally!) of good fortune about it. Therefore, on the balance of play, it was disappointing not to come away with all three points.
Buriram Utd and BEC Tero both won. These results mean the former now have a two point lead over us at the top and the latter are now level on points. A win for the Sharks yesterday would have been a huge psychological boost - joint top sounds better than joint second - and we would also have opened up a three point gap over Muang Thong Utd, instead of a measly one point advantage.
One point gained or two points dropped? You decide.
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