TPL Chonburi 2-1 Muang Thong Utd - Match Report: 2015

TPL

Chonburi 2-1 Muang Thong Utd

Chonburi Stadium

Attendance: 8,460

Sunday 28th June, 2015

MATCH REPORT

What a strange old match this was. The first half had everything - action, goals, controversy, sendings off, a penalty and the threat of real violence - but, other than a couple of near misses, the second period was as dull a forty five minutes as I can remember.

 

Chonburi started like the proverbial house on fire and should have taken the lead within the first minute. However, after bursting through the defence, Thiago failed to connect properly and the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

 

We had another chance a few minutes later, but dos Santos' header hit the inside of the upright and bounced out to safety. Still 0-0 but this was a completely different Chonburi side to the one we've been watching all season. They were passing the ball around with pace, closing down opponents and, in the words of Shaun Ryder (or was it Terry Duckworth?) looked "Mad For It".

 

But, just as we were all rubbing our hands with glee at this promising start, Muang Thong Utd broke away and scored. An unmarked Mario Djurovski (do they still call him Super Mario?) slotted in from close range. Disaster! Would we be able to recover from this? On previous form I would have said not but tonight, things would be different.

 

After a lengthy goal celebration, which, for some reason, involved most of the visiting team standing in front of the tunnel (an interesting choice considering what was to follow), we simply dusted ourselves down and picked up where we'd left off. We were still causing problems for the back four, with Thiago pulling defenders (sometimes literally) all over the place. And we didn't have to wait long for our reward. Seven minutes after going behind, the aforementioned Brazilian was brought down when attempting to get on the end of a left wing cross. It was hard to tell whether the incident occured inside or outside the box but, after getting a call from his linesman, the ref awarded a penalty. This prompted a rash of complaints and protests from the mass debaters in red. Thankfully, the three or four minute delay didn't distract Thiago as he coolly despatched the ball into the net.

 

Shortly after drawing level, the home side received another boost when Sarawut was shown a second yellow for a foul on Leandro. Our tails were up, we were playing against ten men, the home crowd had raised the noise levels - what could possibly go wrong? As it happens (am I still allowed to say that?) nothing. In fact, it was to get a whole lot better.

 

Four minutes before half time, the hard working Nurul seized on a loose ball, turned and chipped the keeper from twenty five yards. It was an exquisite goal. A chip worthy of Harry Ramsden's. And the place erupted. But that wasn't the end of the action. Deep into first half injury time, the ticking time bomb that was Cleiton Silva finally exploded and churlishly kicked out at Kroerkrit. It was a ridiculous knee high challenge with the ball nowhere near and he was, quite rightly, shown a straight red. Surely he could have no complaints. But he managed to find some from somewhere. After initially appearing to accept his fate and heading for the tunnel, he turned back and started arguing with anyone who'd listen. Bizarre behaviour.

 

There was to be no further action on the field but as the teams were departing for their half time cups of tea/orange slices/kow pat moo the officials were approached by the Muang Thong goalie and that fat bloke you always see at press conferences and who sits on the bench. They didn't look happy, bless them, but their petulant haranguing didn't get any reaction from the four men in green and they wandered off looking slightly embarrassed, much to the amusement of the main stand patrons.

 

As I've already stated, the second half was pretty dull. For some reason - and seemingly contrary to Jadet's instructions (which is worrying) - we stopped playing. There was no intent, no movement, no desire, no fun, no more heroes and no end product.  We did create a couple of chances - Leandro failed to get his toe to a cross, Thiago slipped after going round the keeper, Nurul hit the bar and there was a goal mouth scramble which ended with Thiago's overhead kick going wide but otherwise, nothing much happened and the anticipated slaughter didn't materialise.

 

There was a definite feeling of anti-climax as we filed out of the ground at the final whistle. Muang Thong were there for the taking but we failed to capitalise. Sure, we would have bitten your hand off if you'd have offered us a 2-1 win before the match but I can't recall ever feeling so disappointed after a victory and 8-1 would look a whole lot better.