You win again

 

Rajpracha FC 0 Chiang Mai FC 3
Thai M150 Championship
12 September 2021
Leo Stadium, Bangkok.

Starting XI

Jaturong
Meedech ©
Veljko Filipovic
Chaiyaphreuk
Somyot
Pongrawit
Supasak
Suchanon
Narupon
Danilo Lopes
Tawan

The battle of BG’s M150 Championship teams was less of a battle and more a walk in the park for Chiang Mai FC against a lack-lustre Rajpracha side.

Chiang Mai made two changes from the side that beat Rayong last weekend. Missing out were Kabaev, recovering from an injury, and Porncha. They were replaced by Suchanon and Narupon in a more defensive formation; Chiang Mai playing in their Fisherman’s Friend green away kit which on my laptop appeared as a perfect camouflage against the excellent BG pitch.

For Rajpracha, Kittituch replaced Kiadtiphon in goal and Srithai started in place of Nawamin. Rajpracha have failed to score in both opening games of their season; and it is hard to tell where a goal will come from.

The Thai League match summary tells its own story with the first event not showing until the 57th minute.

The first half, played in front of an empty, echoing stadium, was not one to remember.

Jardel was the first to threaten for Rajpracha heading over in the 12th minute.

Kittituch’s first action of the season was to belt his clearance into Danilo’s back from where it fortuitously rolled wide.

20 minutes gone and Jaturong was flattened for the first time as he challenged Jardel, and needed treatment. Two similar events were to follow. I do not think I have ever seen a goalkeeper so frequently hurt.

23 minutes gone and Chiang Mai’s best chance of the half saw the ball fall for Suchanon whose shot rebounded from a pile up of bodies that included Veljko and Tawan.

Tawan’s long range right foot curler was safely caught by Kittituch high to his left while at the other end the Paraguayan Machuca, now in his tenth season in Thai football, pulled a left foot shot wide.

Jaturong then pushed away Sarawin’s curling free kick at his far post in the last meaningful action of a fairly meaningless first half. Rajpracha had enjoyed the better possession and the higher corner count but created little.

The second half was a very different game; dominated by the away side.

Tawan’s pace will be a problem for many defenses this season; and as he broke from midfield his pass through a static defense reached Somyot. Somyot’s shot was saved by the advancing goalkeeper but Danilo reacted fastest to tap home the rebound. 1-0 Chiang Mai.

Saharat replaced Somyot and Porncha came on for Suchanon. Within minutes Porncha ran onto a lovely measured pass from Veljko; pushed wide by Thammayut’s challenge Porncha was still able to round the keeper and slide the ball home for 2-0.

Yuki Nohara was booked for a take-one-for-the-team challenge on Tawan who then came close to adding a third when his 20 yard shot from a lay-off by Danilo was well-saved low to his left by the sprawling Kittituch.

Two opportunities for Jardel at the other end were both wide of the target but were rare moments from a well -beaten Rajpracha.

Into the third minute of injury time and Pinyo’s pass found Pongrawit on the right side of the Rajpracha penalty area; he twice beat Worachai before curling a 20 yard shot into the top left corner of Kittituch’s goal. 3-0 Chiang Mai.

Rajpracha were disappointing. Overly dependent upon Machuca in the first half and out of ideas as his influence on the game waned in the second half.

Chiang Mai go into Matchday 3 in midweek in good heart and as one of just three teams with maximum points in the League alongside Trat and Sukhothai.

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