Shootout at the Tessabaan

Picture: CMFC Official

REVO League Cup – 2022-2023
Round of 32

Wednesday 16 November 2022

Chiang Mai FC 0 Sukhothai FC 0
Chiang Mai FC win 8-7 on penalties.  

Chiang Mai FC:

Fahas
Thammayut
Piyachanok
Sarawut
Sarawin
Kiadtisak
Phommin
Tawan
Suchanon
Amornthep
Gustavsson

After 120 minutes goal-less minutes this cup tie was settled by the high drama of an eighteen penalty shoot-out.

After 18 minutes of penalties Sukhothai’s Pattarapon missed their ninth when Fahas sprawled to his right to make the save; Sarawut, who had an excellent outing as one of two centre-backs stepped up and lashed the ball past Suttipong for a memorable win.

Goalkeeper Fahas was the only survivor of the team that beat Trat at the weekend as coach Fukuda sent out an entirely new outfield for this REVO Cup tie with League 1 Sukhothai.

On a bumpy pitch the game itself was long on effort but shorter on quality. Until the drama of the penalty shoot-out.

Chiang Mai perhaps had the clearer chances in the first half but rarely troubled the Sukhothai goalkeeper; Suchanon shooting high, Amornthep heading and then shooting over as he opted for power over precision.

Meanwhile Fahas saved a deflected free kick at the near post; then dived to his right to gather Peeranat’s low shot, and pushed away Pattarapon’s header at the near post from a free kick by Sarawut.

Pattarapon could also have done better than volleying over a corner at the far post

Stalemate at half time. Suwit replaced Tawan on the left side.

The second half was livelier and was dominated by the home side. Gustavsson’s shot was deflected for a corner; Thammayut and Phommin both tried, rather pointlessly, to score from near the half way line.  

At the other end Sukhothai’s Sarawut volleyed over the crossbar from close range.

Into the last quarter of regular time and Im ChangKyoon’s free kick reached Chiang Mai’s Sarawut on the right side of the penalty area; he shot wide from a good position. A Suwit ball in from the left reached  the stretching Amornthep who once again shot over.

Kim BoYong created space in the penalty area for a powerful right-foot shot – but straight at Suthipong.

Better followed when Im ChangKyoon cut inside from the left wing, found space between two defenders and curled a shot towards the far post – where Sutthipong leapt to his left to claw the ball away.

And so to extra time; Amornthep once again blasted over from a good position; then his hard low cross has a little too much momentum and escaped Gustavsson.

As the end of extra time approached Chiang Mai did have one last chance after Kiattisak sprinted the length of the pitch and won a corner; the corner found Kim BoYong who scooped his shot over the crossbar.

Basically Chiang Mai had battered Sukhothai through the second half and extra time without having the composure or good fortune to score. What was impressive was the fitness of the side and their persistence.

And so to penalties; Sukhothai would go first which is usually an advantage in a shoot-out. Eighteen penalties were taken; impressively none missed the target; three were saved.

First up for Sukhothai was Anuchit, last week’s goalscorer at BGPU, Fahas diving to his right and saving with a strong left hand.

Im ChangKyoon was first up for Chiang Mai and his penalty was also saved. After that Kim BoYong, Phommin, Tanin, Kiadtisak, Amornthep, Chatchai, Suwit (an outrageous penalty!) and finally Sarawut all scored. Fahas had saved Pattarapon’s ninth Sukhothai penalty.

It was high drama; the crowd of 696 loved it. The celebrations were joyful. And Chiang Mai FC are in the last 16.

In other REVO Cup news from last night League 3 Samut Songkhram beat Port FC. Ayutthaya beat Chiang Rai United. Nakhon Pathom beat Chonburi; Dragon Pathuwan Kanchanaburi beat Police Tero and there was a crowd of 9,546 at the Walailak University Stadium to watch MH NakhonSi City against Buriram.

The teams through to the round of 16 of the REVO League Cup are:

T1- Bangkok Utd, Muangthong Utd, Lamphun, Buriram Utd, Prachuap, Khon Kaen Utd, Nongbua Pitchaya, Lampang, Ratchaburi, BGPU

T2- Ayutthaya Utd, Nakhon Pathom, Chiang Mai

T3- Pathumwan Kanchanaburi, Phitsanulok, Samut Songkhram

The draw for the Round of 16 will be held on December 8. The match date is not known due to the possible change of the football calendar for the 2nd leg of league matches.

Finally a quick shout out to our new friends from Singapore; you and any visitors to Chiang Mai are always very welcome. Thank you for your enthusiastic support.