NEW! Chonburi 1-1 BG Pathum Utd - Match Report: 2021

Here's Tim Spear with a summary of yesterday's opening fixture.

TPL

Chonburi 1-1 BG Pathum Utd

Chonburi Stadium

Attendance: n/a

Sunday 5th September, 2021

As fans weren't allowed to attend, how did you watch the match and what was the experience like?

I watched at home on the sofa, on AIS. The screen was a bit small, but we had beer. Still, it is not a match experience at all.

What are your overall feelings on the match and our performance? 

Very positive. Too often our expectations have been to see a team trying, and then watching utter disjointed chaos. We expected to lose against the champions, and were well beaten last year here. Yesterday was very different. We started slowly and were sitting back, but after they scored we came into the game a lot more, and the second half was one sided.  The other thing we noticed was the pressing of the team, we made a lot of challenges, and this is a pleasing aspect to see a little more contact in the game. Of course we were disappointed with not being able to attend the game, and this was compounded by the number of fans seen at other matches.

How has this result/performance impacted on your expectations for the season?

It has not really made any difference. We will not compete at the top, or be in any danger of going down, but will flirt for a while at both ends of the table. 

Who were our standout players?

I think that the team had a good shape and the players worked well together. Worachit was highlighted that it was about time he stood up as a senior player (we have been saying his for the last couple of years) - and again he faded a lot, as usual. Dennis as we know can be a real handful, and he showed this today with solid movement off the ball and pressure. The Kelic put himself about a bit and appeared to have the potential to lead within the team. And Yoo's shot from 40m was a delight. Noppanon was his usual self and reliable. We had a pretty solid midfield for once.

What were your thoughts on BG?

They have quality, as we know. Diogo's first time strike was the real difference between the teams, and his movement within the box is fabulous.

How did the officials (and VAR) perform?

No controversy in the end. All decisions checked turned out to be OK, as we expected. Not so with Buriram Utd, where as usual the decisons aided them.

How did the new kit look in action?

I got this myself on Saturday for 750 Baht. A real bargain. I like the glittering teeth(?) - though it appears more of a boomerang - and it stood out a lot in the lights. Best kit for a while, though the collar is a bit iffy.