TPL
Sukhothai 1-2 Chonburi
Thalay Luang Stadium
Attendance: 2,572
Saturday 16th June, 2018
Match Report
by Peter Reeves
As the World Cup gets underway and the second half of the season starts in Thailand, it seems to be a case of psychotic reactions all round.
Only those without an appreciation of the game in world terms were surprised that Iceland drew with Argentina. The latter are living on a reputation and in Messi, have the best player in the world, who can't adopt his nation’s game plan. So low in the blue and white is he, penalties seem to be beyond him. Iceland, for those that follow international football, are no mugs. Ask England.
The Saudis were stomped over, and maybe not for the last time, and Australia looking the opposite of what they did in qualifying, organised, fit, tough and very tall. The Dutchman's got them organised. They scared the French.
Back at home, Buriram lost at home to relegation contenders Chainat, Bangkok Utd go top and Chonburi win. I'll repeat the last bit...Chonburi win.
It was a reasonably balanced first half, with a few chances at both ends and a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure. On 14, a good save by Chanin at full stretch was the first real incident of note. Twenty minutes later, a wonderful piece of chaos, as a Sukhothai defender took a swipe at the ball and it looped up over everyone and onto the bar.
On 40 minutes, more psychosis, as Chanin, out of his goal and faced with an attacker, decided to try a drag back to get more space to clear, instead of finding row Z. He got away with it. Just!
At half time it was all square and there was not much to choose between two rather poor teams.
The Second half burst into life, as more chaotic defending presented the chance for the Sharks to go ahead. Which they took, courtesy of Marclei Santos, to give them a valuable lead. However, shortly afterwards, the home side drew level with the goal of the game. A harshly awarded free kick was bent into the top corner from about 25yards, past a hopelessly badly positioned Chanin. 1-1.
It looked like that was it as far as the scoring was concerned, especially as the Sharks had been quite wasteful in front of goal, but no. Cue more psychotic nausea, as, three minutes from time, Ciro burst into the area, pushed it too far in front of him, stuck out his boot and it flew in. Well I suppose it would happen sooner or later. He's not done much else this season. Cue the psychosis, as he began charging about, arms raised, as if he's scored the winner in Moscow in the 93rd minute of the World Cup final. Above embarrassing.
So 2-1 it finished. It had been rather poor, apart from the comedy and the antics. But we weren't finished yet, as the team and whoever else happened to be lying about, went for a photo call in front of the travelling fans. I don't know why? Don't ask!
Three points is three points and welcome, given Chonburi’s position, but nothing much I saw last night enthused me enough to think things are about to improve.
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