Muang Thong Utd are through to the semi finals of the AFC Cup after beating Syrian side Al Karamah 2-0 at the Yamaha Stadium last night. Two first half goals were enough to see the home side through after a 1-0 loss in the first leg in Syria.
Virtually the entire FC Phuket squad made the trip to Muang Thong Thani to watch the match. The two clubs have a reciprocal arrangement and a number of FC Phuket's first team players, including Diarra Ali, Nene Bi and Adisak Kraisorn are actually on loan from Muang Thong Utd.
There is almost a month's break between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs as a couple of FC Phuket players, including Kraisorn, are in action for Thailand under 19's.
Muang Thong Utd actually played a group game in the AFC Cup at the Surakul Stadium earlier this year during the protests in Bangkok but they are now back at their home ground where they seldom lose a game.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg Muang Thong Utd delighted their vociferous supporters by levelling the tie after 32 minutes through a spectacular volley from Datsakorn Thonglao.
Ten minutes later Ivory Coast winger Christian Kouakou went down after the slightest of contact from Al Karamah defender Richard Etiege and the referee pointed to the spot. The penalty was duly converted by Siaka Dagno to give Muang Thong Utd a 2-1 lead on aggregate.
The visitors knew that they only needed to score once to go ahead under the away goals rule but they were unable to fashion any clear cut chances. Muang Thong Utd controlled the game in the second half and were unfortunate not be awarded another penalty.
Muang Thong Utd manager Rene Desayere was delighted by his side's performance,
“Tonight we played the best I have seen. We are all very happy and we hope this will spur us on in the competition. The Syrians were a very good side and we did not let one goal in against them. In fact we hardly let them have a shot," he said.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
FC Phuket 2-1 Phang Nga
courtesy of Phuket Gazette
Goals either side of halftime from Thawin Butrsombat and Nithirot Sukuma were enough to ease FC Phuket to a 2-1 home win over Phang Nga FC at Surakul Stadium last night.
Thawin, signed during the mid-season break, put the Southern Sea Kirin 1-0 up after just seven minutes, when he kept his composure in the box to finish off a sweeping five-man move that began deep in the FC Phuket half.
Nithirot slotted home a second after 56 minutes when Diarra Ali’s shot rebounded off the goalkeeper after the African star had sprung the Phang Nga offside trap to run onto a clever through ball from defender Ronnachai Jinaket.
With 15 minutes remaining, the visiting side pulled a goal back but FC Phuket held on for the win to complete a memorable league campaign which has seen them collect 55 points.
Despite a couple of anxious moments, the home side closed out the match and after the final whistle collected the league trophy in front of their delighted supporters.
The celebration included the players hoisting Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Paiboon Upatising into the air and a fireworks display.
FC Phuket will now go into training for the playoffs for promotion to the first division.
Also qualifying for the playoff will be Trang FC, who secured the second place spot with a 1-0 win at home over Hat Yai FC last night.
Other results of Division 2 South matches played last night:
Pattani FC 1 - 0 Phattalung
Chumphon FC 0 - 1 Nakhon Sri Thammarat
Krabi FC 1 – 1 Satun United
Ranong FC 4 – 2 Surat FC
by Dan Ogunshakin and
S. Fein
Goals either side of halftime from Thawin Butrsombat and Nithirot Sukuma were enough to ease FC Phuket to a 2-1 home win over Phang Nga FC at Surakul Stadium last night.
Thawin, signed during the mid-season break, put the Southern Sea Kirin 1-0 up after just seven minutes, when he kept his composure in the box to finish off a sweeping five-man move that began deep in the FC Phuket half.
Nithirot slotted home a second after 56 minutes when Diarra Ali’s shot rebounded off the goalkeeper after the African star had sprung the Phang Nga offside trap to run onto a clever through ball from defender Ronnachai Jinaket.
With 15 minutes remaining, the visiting side pulled a goal back but FC Phuket held on for the win to complete a memorable league campaign which has seen them collect 55 points.
Despite a couple of anxious moments, the home side closed out the match and after the final whistle collected the league trophy in front of their delighted supporters.
The celebration included the players hoisting Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Paiboon Upatising into the air and a fireworks display.
FC Phuket will now go into training for the playoffs for promotion to the first division.
Also qualifying for the playoff will be Trang FC, who secured the second place spot with a 1-0 win at home over Hat Yai FC last night.
Other results of Division 2 South matches played last night:
Pattani FC 1 - 0 Phattalung
Chumphon FC 0 - 1 Nakhon Sri Thammarat
Krabi FC 1 – 1 Satun United
Ranong FC 4 – 2 Surat FC
by Dan Ogunshakin and
S. Fein
FC Phuket vs Phang Nga
It is the final game of the season tonight and it is a local derby against Phang Nga. the Division Two trophy will be being presented to the team immediately after the game. Come along and celebrate. KO 6pm at the Surakul Stadium
CHAMPIONS!!!
CHAMPIONS!!!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Phattalung 0-2 FC Phuket
match report from the Phuket Gazette
translated by Stephen Fein
FC Phuket beat Phattalung FC, 2-0
PHUKET: FC Phuket rebounded from being bounced out of the Toyota League Cup competition last weekend with a solid 2-0 win at Phatthalung on Sunday.
Phattalung FC came into the pairing in tenth place in the 13-team Division 2 South of the AIS Regional League, while FC Phuket had already clinched the division title.
Both sides came out aggressively, but FC Phuket’s Nene Bi broke the deadlock with a goal at 13 minutes and the Southern Sea Kirin began to control the flow of the game after that. The second goal came at 25 minutes on a rebound shot from Chakrit Rawanprakhone.
Phattalung FC’s efforts to get back in the game were stifled by solid defending in the Phuket backfield and the Southern Sea Kirin held on to beat the Swiftlets 2-0.
The win brings the FC Phuket’s record to 16 wins, four losses and two draws, with a stunning +32 goal differential.
Other results in Division 2 South matches over the weekend: HatYai 1 - 1 Ranong; Phang Nga 2- 1 Chumphon; Surat Thani 6 - 1 Yala; Krabi 2 - 2 Trang; Satun 4 - 2 Nakhon Si Thammarat.
FC Phuket’s last game of the season is a home fixture starting at 6pm on Wednesday against Phang Nga FC.
The battle to see which Division 2 South team will grab second place, earning a spot alongside FC Phuket in the promotional playoffs, will be determined the same night, when all teams play their final matches. Trang could clinch it with a home win against Hat Yai FC.
The top of the points table looks like this going into the matches: Phuket 52; Trang 38; Satun United 37; Surat Thani 36, Ranong 35.
The fixtures are as follows: Trang v HatYai; Pattani v Phattalung; Chumphon v Nakhon Si Thammarat; Krabi v Satun United; Ranong v Surat Thani.
– Stephen Michael Fein
translated by Stephen Fein
FC Phuket beat Phattalung FC, 2-0
PHUKET: FC Phuket rebounded from being bounced out of the Toyota League Cup competition last weekend with a solid 2-0 win at Phatthalung on Sunday.
Phattalung FC came into the pairing in tenth place in the 13-team Division 2 South of the AIS Regional League, while FC Phuket had already clinched the division title.
Both sides came out aggressively, but FC Phuket’s Nene Bi broke the deadlock with a goal at 13 minutes and the Southern Sea Kirin began to control the flow of the game after that. The second goal came at 25 minutes on a rebound shot from Chakrit Rawanprakhone.
Phattalung FC’s efforts to get back in the game were stifled by solid defending in the Phuket backfield and the Southern Sea Kirin held on to beat the Swiftlets 2-0.
The win brings the FC Phuket’s record to 16 wins, four losses and two draws, with a stunning +32 goal differential.
Other results in Division 2 South matches over the weekend: HatYai 1 - 1 Ranong; Phang Nga 2- 1 Chumphon; Surat Thani 6 - 1 Yala; Krabi 2 - 2 Trang; Satun 4 - 2 Nakhon Si Thammarat.
FC Phuket’s last game of the season is a home fixture starting at 6pm on Wednesday against Phang Nga FC.
The battle to see which Division 2 South team will grab second place, earning a spot alongside FC Phuket in the promotional playoffs, will be determined the same night, when all teams play their final matches. Trang could clinch it with a home win against Hat Yai FC.
The top of the points table looks like this going into the matches: Phuket 52; Trang 38; Satun United 37; Surat Thani 36, Ranong 35.
The fixtures are as follows: Trang v HatYai; Pattani v Phattalung; Chumphon v Nakhon Si Thammarat; Krabi v Satun United; Ranong v Surat Thani.
– Stephen Michael Fein
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Osotspan Saraburi 3-1 FC Phuket
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at the Surakul Stadium FC Phuket were faced with the unenviable task of defeating Osotspan Saraburi away from home if they were to progress to the second round of the Toyota League Cup.
A small contingent of FC Phuket fans made the trip to Saraburi for the match on Thursday night. An upset seemed to be on the cards when Ivory Coast midfielder Diarra Ali gave FC Phuket the lead after only three minutes.
FC Phuket were without captain and defensive lynchpin Suphat Onthong who broke his nose while training with Muang Thong Utd. His absence was felt keenly as the Southern Sea Kirin collapsed, conceding three goals before half time.
The match finished 3-1 meaning that FC Phuket lose 5-1 on aggregate.
A small contingent of FC Phuket fans made the trip to Saraburi for the match on Thursday night. An upset seemed to be on the cards when Ivory Coast midfielder Diarra Ali gave FC Phuket the lead after only three minutes.
FC Phuket were without captain and defensive lynchpin Suphat Onthong who broke his nose while training with Muang Thong Utd. His absence was felt keenly as the Southern Sea Kirin collapsed, conceding three goals before half time.
The match finished 3-1 meaning that FC Phuket lose 5-1 on aggregate.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
FC Phuket 1-2 Osotspa Saraburi FC
FC Phuket were desperately unlucky to be beaten 2-1 by Premier Division Side Osotspa Saraburi in the opening round of the Toyota League Cup. The first leg of the fixture took place at the Surakul Stadium on Sunday and represented a serious step up in opposition for FC Phuket who are currently two divisions below their opponents.It was the first home fixture for the Southern Sea Kirin since clinching the Division Two title and a good chance for Arjan Songssamsub’s side to test themselves against a higher level of opposition. FC Phuket have already faced Premier League opposition this season and gave an extremely good account of themselves on that occasion. Samut Songkhram required two goals in extra time to knock FC Phuket out of the Thai FA Cup in the third round in June.
The disparity between the two divisions was obvious at the start of the match with FC Phuket struggling to adjust to the slightly higher pace of the game. It was Osotspa Saraburi who got the better of the opening exchanges but with Diarra Ali an increasingly influential presence in midfield FC Phuket improved as the half wore on.
The first chance of the game fell to Osotspa Saraburi striker Phaitoon Tiepma midway through the half but he blazed well over after good work on the right hand side by Ghanaian forward Evans Mensah. Moments later the sort of fast flowing counter attack which has become a familiar sight to FC Phuket fans this season ended with teenage winger Sarach Yooyen firing narrowly over the bar from long range.
FC Phuket goalkeeper Jacked Thamassaen almost gifted Osotspa Saraburi the lead but was able to recover and make a sharp save after he had fumbled a cross. FC Phuket were growing in confidence and Nene Bi almost gave his side the lead on the stroke of half time when he got his head on the end of a long range free kick from Diarra Ali. The Ivory Coast defender was desperately unfortunate to see his header across goal fly agonizingly wide of the post.
Disaster struck just two minutes into the second half for the home side when Phaitoon Tiepma was given time and space in the FC Phuket penalty area and despite getting two hands on the ball Thamassaen was unable to keep his shot out. Adisak Kraisorn spurned a glorious chance to equalize moments later when he was player through after good work by Diarra Ali but his shot lacked conviction and was comfortable saved by Mantehwa Lahmsombat.
Poramut Krongbrisut had a good chance after 57 minutes but he sliced his shot wide of the near post after being played through on goal with an intelligent through ball by Sarach Yooyen. It would prove to be a costly miss for FC Phuket as Osotspa Saraburi grabbed a second goal almost immediately after. Thailand under 23 international Apipoo Suntornpanavej whipped in a free kick from the right which eluded everyone including the hapless Thamassaen before nestling in the bottom right hand corner of the net.
It was harsh on FC Phuket who has more than matched their more illustrious opponents. To the team’s credit they picked up the pace and were extremely unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty after 66 minutes. Kraisorn brilliantly weaved his way through the Osotspa Saraburi defence and was just about to pull the trigger when a defender slid straight through him.
The crowd rose as one in anticipation of a penalty but the referee chose to waive away the furious FC Phuket protests and allow the game to continue.
A goal for FC Phuket finally arrived when Diarra Ali curled a brilliant free kick into the top right hand corner from 25 yards. It was a fine strike and no more than FC Phuket deserved for a battling performance.
Striker Chakrit Rawanprakon was thrown on as FC Phuket looked to grab an equalizer in injury time. The Osotspa Saraburi defence stood firm in the face of intense FC Phuket pressure and will take a commanding lead into the second leg.
The away goals rule means that FC Phuket are faced with the daunting task of scoring at least twice at the M-150 Stadium if they want to progress. Manager Songsamssub was still able to see the positives in this performance,
‘I think we were unlucky because we had a lot of chances to score but we did not take them well. I don’t blame the goalkeeper for either of their goals. Osotspa Saraburi are in the Premier Division and we are only in Division Two so I am pleased with our performance. I think Diarra Ali’s goal will help us and it is still possible to get into the next round,’ he said.
by James Goyder
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