FA Cup
Round 2
Chonburi 4-2 Nong Bua Pitchaya
Chonburi Stadium
Wednesday 13th July, 2016
Match report
by Peter Reeves
Veni, Vidi and we gave it a right go.
It’s one of the great things about cup competitions that the ‘little’ club gets to have a go at one of the alleged ‘big boys’. Sometimes a potential banana skin that can make you look fools, Ask Celtic. Tonight was that, a PL team entertaining a RL team at home. Should be a no contest really and as Chonburi put out probably their strongest 11 you feared for the minnows a bit. Not a bit of it. I thought the ‘little boys’ were excellent and in their number 8, with the Edgar Davids haircut, the best player on the field by a country mile.
Chonburi started well and Pitchaya were struggling to hold on. Looking nervous and a little overawed it looked like they were frightened to play and it was no surprise when the Sharks took the lead when the goalkeeper spilled a free kick for a Dos Santos tap in. After 15 minutes an unlucky own goal came off the head of a defender and the word capitulation came to mind. Pitchaya relaxed maybe thinking “oh well” and started to play a bit. They were probing for a ball down the centre over the top of the Sharks defence and a couple of times it nearly worked. Chonburi were now knocking it around comfortably and not seeming bothered too much about getting a third to put the tie to bed. Chances were being created but not converted. Rodrigo the main culprit. A little warning light flashed for the Sharks when a good delivery from a free kick was met in the air cleanly but he put it wide. Could’ve scored. Half time, 2-0, about right.
I don’t know what Pitchaya had in their half time cup of tea, but I want some. For the first 10 minutes of the second half they were easing themselves into it. Growing in confidence. Getting a bit more adventurous by the minute and their number 8 was beginning to run the midfield. Adul, as usual having a decent game, had no answer to him. Neither did anyone else. One minute he was protecting his back four, next creating from midfield and occasionally executing drag backs on the edge of Chonburi’s penalty area surrounded by Sharks players who couldn’t get it off him. Chonburi were struggling at times to mount an attack as they were pushed back and then…2-1. A man unmarked in the box from a corner and a good strike. Game on.
Chonburi were now limited almost to break aways as Pitchaya continued their little combinations and continued to threaten, getting more confident by the minute. Building through midfield with good control and movement. There was a 10 minute period where you could not tell who was the PL team and who from the RL. They were tiring though and were guilty of committing too many too far forward and were hit on the break. A number of, for a change, neat passes in and around the box ended with a simple tap in on the line 3-1. Arsene Wenger would have liked that one. To their credit Pitchaya kept trying to go forward and were caught again when Chonburi got in round the back down the left side. The ball arrived with Leandro who with his back to goal flicked the ball up, turned and hit the goal of the night. An unstoppable screamer the keeper had no chance with.
So 4-1 now and into the last 10 but Pitchaya kept coming. Leandro having scored the best goal of the night missed a completely open goal when the ball bounced over the keeper’s head but that would have given the scoreline an unfair feel, given Pitchaya’s efforts. Is there something about that end? The keeper at the weekend did the same thing. Our little team though, still going forward, were rewarded before the final whistle with a second with a great through ball, potentially offside, but a good run and finish. 4-2. If they had just converted one of the chances they had created in that second half then this would have been close and I’m sure the jitters would have set in for the Sharks and their fans.
Chonburi deserved to win, but they’d been in a game. As regular readers know I am rarely complimentary about Thai football but tonight indulge me. Chonburi go through, deservedly so, but I shall raise a glass tonight to the ‘little team’ and there number 8 who impressed me so much. Good shape, nice formation, some player discipline and neat passing and movement. Super little team. I could quite happily go and watch them if they weren’t so far from Korat.
Carry on like that and it won’t be long before they’re back in Chonburi but not in the cup. Then maybe we can include the ‘vici’.
Well done Chonburi, into the next round. To Nong Bua Pitchaya, respect and appreciation.
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