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

FC Phuket 1-2 Osotspa Saraburi FC

match report to follow...

FC Phuket vs Osotspa Saraburi FC 5pm Kick Off

FC Phuket's home game with Osotspa Sraburi kicks off at 5PM, one hour earlier than the normal time.

FC Phuket in cup action this Sunday

FC Phuket will face Thai Premier League team Osotspa Saraburi FC in the opening round of the 2010 Toyota League Cup.

Matches are played over two legs and the first leg will be held at the Surakul Stadium this Sunday, Kick off 6pm.

It will be an interesting test for FC Phuket who have already won Division Two (Southern Section) and are hoping to qualify for Division One via the divisional play offs.

Nakhon Si Tammarat 1-4 FC Phuket

FC Phuket won 4-1 away to Nakhon Si Tammarat yesterday.

The league may already be won but the players still get substantial bonuses for winning matches. Thanks to Stephen Fein at the Phuket Gazette for translating this:


PHUKET: FC Phuket scored three second half goals to cruise to a 4-1 win at Nakhon Sri Thammarat yesterday.

The Southern Sea Kirin had already clinched the league, with 46 points going into the match, but were looking to build confidence for their big home match against Thai Premier League side Osotspa Saraburi FC in the opening round of the 2010 Toyota League Cup on Sunday.

The match will be played at Surakul Stadium starting at 6pm, according to the club’s website.

In yesterday’s match, at the OrBorJor Stadium in Nakhon Sri Thammarat’s Ron Phibul District, 11th-place Nakhon Sri Thammarat came out like a team with little to lose.

But despite some good chances early on, it was FC Phuket who drew first blood at 25 minutes when Nakhon Sri Thammarat keeper Thanadech Sriwichai managed to block a shot by Sarach Yooyen, but Phuket FC’s Nene Bi was well-positioned to slot the loose ball into the back of the net; Phuket 1-0.

Nakhon Sri Thammarat tied up the match just before halftime when a shot by Kittipong Sakuna deflected off Phuket defender Ronnachai Jinaket and went into the net.

FC Phuket regained the lead just one minute into the second half, when Thawin Butrsombat outmaneuvered the Nakhon Sri Thammarat keeper in a one-on-one showdown and kicked the ball home. FC Phuket, 2-1.

Nakhon Sri Thammat kept up the pressure but couldn’t convert. FC Phuket added an insurance goal at 75 minutes when a clearance by Thanadech fell into the path of Sarach Yooyen 40 yards out. The teen twisted himself and fired a gorgeous volley into the net to put FC Phuket up 3-1.

The final goal came at 80 minutes after a shot by Thawin Butrsombat shot from 20 years out. Thanadech blocked it, but the ball fell to Camara Hamed, who made no mistake finding the back of the net.

In another Regional League Division 2 South match with playoff implications played over the weekend, second-place Trang FC got a point from a scoreless draw on the road at Surat Thani. The result puts them three points clear of Ranong and Satun United, who are tied for third with 34 points each.

Only the first and second-place teams will qualify for the ‘mini-league’ playoff to decide which four Division 2 sides will be promoted to Division 1.

The playoff will involve the top two teams from each of the five regional leagues, plus the top two third-place teams from the larger divisions.

The twelve teams will divided into two groups of six teams each. After playing home and away matches in a round-robin format, the sides that come out first and second in each group will be promoted to Division 1.

Saturday: Phang Nga 1 – 0 Pattani; HatYai 1 – 1 Krabi; Surat Thani 0 – 0 Trang

Sunday: Satun 4 – 2 Chumphon; Phattalung 0 – 0 Yala

In a scheduling note, FC Phuket’s last home match of the season, against Phang Nga, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, September 8 to accommodate the Toyota League Cup match.

Daily News reported that AIS Regional League Commissioner Wimon Kanchana will travel to Phuket to present the league trophy to FC Phuket players after the match.

– Stephen Michael Fein

Champions!

FC Phuket are the Division Two (Southern Section) champions courtesy of a 2-1 away win against Ranong yesterday. More details to follow...

FC Phuket 2-0 Hat Yai

The Division Two (Southern Section) title is within touching distance for FC Phuket after a comfortable 2-0 win against Hat Yai at the Surakul Stadium on Sunday. FC Phuket went into this match brimming with confidence having put together back to back league wins after the surprise loss to Yala.

Safari Nanson replaced the injured Jagked Thamassaen in goal while Sarach Yooyen was absent due to suspension which meant a recall for Kittitach Kraitong. Adisak was once again left on the bench with Diarra Ali supporting 10 in attack. FC Phuket started the match extremely brightly and were unfortunate not to take an early lead when Kittitach Kraitong whipped in an excellent cross which Nithirot Sukuma was unable to convert.

Thawin Butrasombat then had a superb chance to get his name on the scoresheet when the ball fell kindly to him in the six yard box. He attempting to take the ball around the keeper but pushed it too far wide of goal allowing the defender to get back and block his eventual shot.

Just as it seemed Hat Yai had weathered the storm FC Phuket took the lead after 25 minutes through a perfectly executed free kick from Diarra Ali. The Ivory Coast midfielder is in great goalscoring form at present and he simply stroked the ball around the wall and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal from 25 yards.

Hat Yai were offering absolutely zero attacking threat and Nansen simply did not have a save to make although he looked uncharacteristically commanding when claiming a couple of crosses. Diarra Ali almost made it 2-0 a few minutes before half time but his header was well tipped over the bar by the Hat Yai keeper.

Defender Pongsak Panicharoen was replaced by striker Adisak Kraisorn at half time in a move which saw Diarra Ali drop back into central midfield. After a promising start to his FC Phuket career Kraisorn has been out of favour in recent weeks. He had a good goalscoring opportunity early in the second half when he got on the end of a
Diarra Ali free kick but his header bobbled agonizingly wide.

A well worked free kick routine between the two Ivory Coast midfielders almost paid off after 65 minutes. Diarra Ali shaped to shoot but instead passed the ball to Camara who promptly played it back into his path. Diarra Ali then pulled the ball back to give the onrushing Camara an extremely presentable opportunity but he blazed wastefully over the bar.

Fortunately for Camara he would not have to wait too long for another opportunity to present itself. This time he made no mistake providing a composed finish at the end of an intricate series of passes to make the score 2-0 after 75 minutes. There was still time for Camara to create a chance for Thawin Butrasombat but the striker's first touch let him down and allowed the keeper to make the save.

Although the league title is still not a mathematical certainty for the Southern Sea Kirin only a series of extremely improbable results would prevent FC Phuket from finishing first. While manager Arjan Songsamssub is pleased at the progress which is being made he warns that that the play offs will present a very tough test for his fledgling side,

‘We have to win one more game. All the teams in the play offs are very strong so it will be very hard for us. I believe we can do it and I hope we can do it,’ he said.

Phuket under 16s

The Phuket under 16 team put in a very credible performance in the Prime Minister's Cup.

The 12 regions which qualified for the competition, which was held in Phuket, were divided into two groups. The top two teams met in the semi finals and the winners will meet in the final in Bangkok.

Phuket finished third in their group so didn't make the semi finals but were put in a third and fourth places play off against Bangkok.

Phuket conceded a late goal and lost 2-1 but it was a very credible overall performance, particularly considering that Phuket has a comparatively small population and no specialist sports colleges at present.

FC Phuket 2-1 Satun Utd MATCH REPORT & GOALS

This article originally appeared here: http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/detail.asp?id=9032&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Thanks to Stephen Fein from the Phuket Gazette for translating this from a Thai media source.

First-place FC Phuket won a key football match on Sunday, with a clutch 2-1 road win over second-place Satun United.

Satun United, coming off a 1-0 win over Hatyai FC, were in high spirits for the match against FC Phuket, who won the first encounter played at Surakul Stadium in March by a score of 2-0.

In second place with 31 points, Satun United hoped to cut FC Phuket’s six-point lead in half by taking all three points.

Satun went into the match with no injuries, but FC Phuket were without teenage winger Sarach Yooyen. However Phuket FC’s Ivory Coast trio of Diarra Ali, Nene Bi and Camara were all ready for the encounter.

The festive atmosphere started with the large green-shirted “The Hulk” supporters of FC Phuket Southern Sea Kirin presenting a birthday cake to Phuket substitute player Wilas Kerdmoh.

There was also an appearance by Satun Governor Sumeth Chailertwanichakul, who distributed free footballs paid for out of his own pocket to excited fans before the kickoff.

The match started with Satun United pressing the attack, but at five minutes FC Phuket’s Camara opened the scoring with a beautiful goal. He took a long throw-in from behind the center and ran up the left side before shaking off a defender, then placing a looping shot into the top right-hand corner of the goal from outside the penalty area.

Satun United came back hard and had some excellent scoring opportunities, but these were foiled by some outstanding saves by FC Phuket keeper Jakkrit Thammasen.

FC Phuket took a 2-0 lead into the locker room with a nice goal by Ali, who threw off two defenders inside the penalty area before blasting a shot low on the ground past Satun United defender Sony.

Satun United’s desperate efforts to get back in the match were finally rewarded at 80 minutes on a gorgeous free kick into the top-right corner of the goal by their captain Pichet Sadeen.

Satun’s failure to get a second goal lead to some frustration by some fans, who hurled water bottles at injured Phuket player Pongsak as he lay on the turf. After the match the FC Phuket coaching staff were also targeted. Fortunately no injuries were reported.

FC Phuket keeper Jakkrit Thammasen was named man of the match.

Phuket FC’s next match is at home against Hatyai FC on Sunday. The start time is listed at 5pm, but the kickoff at most matches this year has been around 6pm.

Admission is 50 baht for adults, 20 baht for children.

In other AIS Regional League Division 2 South matches played Sunday:

# Chumphon FC 3 – 1 Pattani FC

# Phang Nga FC 2 – Ranong FC 1

# Nakhon Sri Thammarat FC 3 – 0 Yala FC


If you are not sure what a clutch road win is, or how it is possible to run onto your own throw in then you can check out all the goals on youtube

Satun FC 1 FC Phuket 2

Goals from Momo Camara and Diarra Ali were enough to give the Southern Sea Kirin all three points and move them closer to the end-of-season playoffs.