Thai Port 1-0 Chonburi (7/12/11) - Match Report: 2011

TPL

Thai Port 1-0 Chonburi

PAT Stadium

Attendance: 2,215

Gate receipts : B123,120

Merchandise : B15,643

Wednesday 7th December, 2011

MATCH REPORT

EKKABHUM ON TARGET AS PORT END CHONBURI'S TITLE HOPES

by Tor Chittinand

Thai Port FC stunned Chonburi FC 1-0 in the Thailand Premier League action yesterday to effectively end the Sharks' title hopes.

Ekkabhum Potharungroj scored the winner with 10 minutes to go as Chonburi remain second on 55 points _ 14 behind leaders PEA _ with six matches left.

Defending champions Muang Thong United are third on 55 points but the Kirins have played two games less than the leading duo.

At PAT stadium, Chonburi, led by veteran midfielder Therdsak Chaiman, dominated for long periods but could not send the ball past in-form goalkeeper Munze Ulrich who made several fine saves.

With only a few scoring chances, Port proved sharper when Ekkabhum headed the ball into Chonburi's net in the 80th minute.

Chonburi then threw everything at Port but the hosts defended well to get the three points.

THAI PORT 1-0 CHONBURI

by Malky

Thai Port moved into the top half of the TPL courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Chonburi. 

The 4pm kick off started in Khlong Toei with barely a few hundred spectators inside the PAT Stadium. If the game had been played on a weekend, I'm sure the crowd for the opening of the match would have been quadrupled.

The game though was a decent throughout as both teams had numerous chances.

The best effort of the first half came shortly before the interval when Pipob's header from a Therdsak cross was fantastically blocked by Munze with his right leg.

Shortly into the second half, the home side's keeper was called upon again to beat away a Highuchi shot from close range with his right arm.

As the game entered the final third, Chonburi seemed to lose impotence upfront as Thai Port began to press for a winner. The threat of Ekkapoom was evident all game, and with 10 minutes left on the clock, the wee man was at the near post to nod in a Mongkol freekick.

The rest of the game was most noticeable for Chonburi's keeper Sintaweechai attempting to play centre forward for the Sharks as they desperately searched for an equalizer.

Tonight was one of those games that could have gone either way. Had it been played earlier in the season when Chonburi were on fine form, or even when Thai Port were going through their wretched run under Thongchai when he first took over, then I'm sure Chonburi would have won this game. Today though, Thai Port played with the spirit that has seen them take 10 points out of the last 12.