TPL
Chonburi 0-0 Nakhon Ratchasima
Chonburi Stadium
Attendance: 6,278
Sunday 26th February, 2017
Match report
by Peter Reeves
A beautiful summer’s evening. A near packed house. Two sets of loyal, vocal fans making noise, creating a good atmosphere. All you need is two teams that will come out to try and win the match. Well, there’s always something missing isn’t there.
For the first 5 minutes the teams were getting into the match and nothing to comment on, but it was clear that Chonburi were that little more adventurous. It came to life in the 8th minute as a Korat defender brought down an attacker right on the edge of the box. Very poor challenge from a player who looks less than adequate. One more step and it was a penalty but I think the ref got it right. The free kick. Superb strike bending over the wall clattering the bar, goalkeeper nowhere. Deserved a goal and was within two inches of being one. Shame really because then Korat would have had to come out. With, at times, 7 and 8 players behind the ball it didn’t take Einstein to see what they’d come for.
After 20 minutes Chonburi were clearly on top with Korat doing little more than pumping high balls up towards an ineffective Adiyah. When they did try and play creatively through midfield they too often made a poor pass and gave it away. Oh where was a Chivuta or a Lindemann? It was Chonburi who were playing the football and trying to find a way through but too often the final ball was badly judged.
So let’s pause there for a minute and talk tactically because after the first 20 you can usually see what is going on. Chonburi. A bull of a centre forward in Marques but a little better than Rodrigo was last season at holding the ball up. Two good wingers. Balls played up to Marques he usually won and knocked them down but then it needed someone to do something and that wasn’t happening. I wondered about Therdsak’s rationale of not having Prince playing behind and off him. Maybe at half time I thought.
Korat? Not an efficient or safe defensive setup, just bodies behind the ball. Because everybody was back there was no shape to the team and therefore no link play between defence and midfield, just a hit and hope away from the danger area. The two centre backs playing too close together and the full backs wide allowed great holes through the channels between them. Defensive midfielders were not covering those channels and so the opportunity was there for Marques to lay the ball off and maybe a Prince to find the gap with an angled ball that lets in Nurul or his counterpart on the left. Happened a few times but the ball was often poor.
Time went on and it remained the same. Chonburi superior, Korat offering little real threat at all except for the odd break away. But the Sharks were getting closer and breaching the Korat backline. Marques clean through on the left but a poor shot. Nurul in on the right couldn’t make it count and Marques again with the best chance scuffing a shot at the keeper from 12 yards.
Half time and Chonburi could have been two up and would have been worth it. Prince I thought for the second half. Nope. Korat had managed two shots on target I think, and a couple in the car park and another on the beach. Maybe Prince on for keeper Chanin in the second half. Might as well.
Second half more of the same. Chonburi were now so superior that a goal seemed inevitable and once there was one maybe the flood gates would open. 52 minutes Chonburi should have scored, a header towards an empty net went wide with the goalkeeper flapping. On 62 a good Nurul free kick and the on rushing attacker just failed to get a touch from 4 yards. Chonburi were now in total control and with no link play possible Korat were resigned to just thumping it forward, often anywhere will do.
On 78 a clear chance for Marques but an awful shot scuffed to the keeper again. 80 Pipob clean through in the left channel hit his shot on the beach, high wide and not very handsome. Chonburi were now all over a crumbling back line, but then on 83 a nasty moment.
Adiyah tackled robustly but fairly took a swing at the player who’d taken the ball and chopped him down. He then compounded the issue by stepping over him and giving him a stamp on his right thigh. No question. Off. Disgraceful thing to do by any player for any reason. Result? Yellow card.
84 minutes, finally Prince was brought on but far too late. Therdsak had missed a trick there, and so it ended. Could’ve been 4 or 5-0 given the number of clear cut chances and the one that hit the bar.
Chonburi were good if a bit lacking in final creativity. Effort level was high, defence when it was required, which wasn’t often, ok, but woeful in front of goal. Even Rodrigo and certainly Leandro would have helped themselves tonight. But they can be enthused by the overall performance. They dominated the game virtually from the start and with a similar performance against Buriram they might do ok this season. Nattaphon and Chonlatit I thought did well, as did Nurul.
Korat? No threat at all. Dodgy centre-back, defensive shape that doesn’t work, just bodies behind the ball. Perhaps a manifestation of a coach who just doesn’t want to lose but is not that interested in winning. They looked a better more creative and entertaining team under Kambe. Keeper did well. Good job he did.
Officials did reasonably ok. Couple of good offside decisions but missed sending off Adiyah.
The MPH award for pathetic histrionics to Korat’s 26. Who rolled all over the floor with a few minutes to go after Pipob breathed on him. Pipob tried to pick him up and gave him a mouthful. I can think of one or two that would not have restricted it to words for him.
Match report
by Russ John
The Swatcats travelled east to take on the Chonburi Sharks in this weekend’s fixture. The match began with both sides sparring but with little end effect and both defences able to cope with what few half chances were created.
In the 7th minute a flailing Victor Igbonefo was lucky not to concede a penalty with a clumsy challenge just outside the 18 yard box. The resulting free kick struck the bar with the visiting keeper well beaten.
Poor balls in the final third prevented either side from creating real chances and at times the fans were subjected to periods of ping pong soccer with both sides alternately belting it long rather than playing it through midfield.
In the 16th minute Andre Luis tested the keeper with a snap shot and in the 47th minute, a well crafted move resulted in a Dominic Adiyiah drive that was well saved by the home team’s keeper, were rare moments of class in an otherwise dull first half.
A couple of half chances from the Sharks as the half progressed gave them the edge as the first half concluded.
The second half began with attacking moves from both sides again breaking down with poor final balls, but in the 52nd minute Chonburi went close with a looping header after a fine cross. The home team began to exert increasing pressure with the men in orange confined to rare breaks forward.
Despite this pressure, clear cut chances were at a premium as the Swatcats defended doggedly, snuffing out any potential threats. The match petered out in a rather uninspiring way with the match ending in a dull stalemate - a useful point for the visitors but with home advantage, Chonburi will be disappointed with their lack of firepower up front.
A poor spectacle tonight with two teams destined, on their performances tonight, for mid table mediocrity. Neither side provided any real and consistent class up front with both keepers experiencing a relatively quiet night.
A dour and determined performance from the Swatcats, which keeps them unbeaten. Still only two goals from three matches which is a worry but 4 points from our opening two away games is encouraging and if we can maintain a decent home record we should be heading for a mid table finish.
Defensively (only one goal conceded so far and that was a penalty) we look sound, but Victor Igbonefo looked sluggish at times tonight and I think stronger teams will expose his lack of pace.
A mention has to be made about the Swatcat’s support tonight. The away section was sold out and the fans were noisy and relentless in their support of the team - well done to the fans. I feel sure that the players appreciate their support.
A Swat Cat Fan's Verdict On The Sharks
by Russ John
Sorry to report but I saw Nothing special from the Sharks in tonight’s match. They lack a leader on the field and they seemed disjointed with little linkage between defence/midfield and attack. I think they are missing a leader on the pitch - I wonder what a Matt smith type player would do for the team.
I think they need Adul and Dos Santos back - what a mistake to let them go.
I sense a similar feeling that I had with Kambe and the Swatcats last season - a seeming lack of respect and confidence in the coach. A team with no motivator on or off the pitch is destined to underperform.
A change in coach may still lead to a reasonable position at the end of the season but a word of warning (to my team the Swatcats also) - the Top Tier has lost most of the “weak teams”. There are fewer and fewer teams who will be discussed as relegation candidates. Teams such as the Sharks and Swatcats may in future be fighting relegation – particularly in 2018 when the top tier shrinks to 16 teams.
One last remark – Why no Prince in the starting lineup? – He is just the type of player that might have caused problems for the defence tonight. Is the current coach making the correct calls?
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