Stalemate

Picture: CMFC Official

Thai League 2
2022-2023

Sunday 16 October 2022
Chiang Mai FC 0 Customs United 0

Stalemate


Chiang Mai FC:

Fahas
Sarawut
Stewart
Veljko
Suwannaphat
Im Changkyoon
Srithai
Pongrawit
Suwit
Gustavsson
Bo Yong Kim

In front of a home crowd of 1,713, two capable defenses dominated this match; and we could probably still be playing on Monday morning without a goal being scored.

Chiang Mai once again started with a back three with Sarawut returning from suspension to replace Piyachanok.

Im Changkyoon made his first start coming in for Ronnayod, injured last week at Kasetsart.

The weather was kind; a cool (ish) and still evening. But the pitch, recovering from the deluge of recent weeks, was fast and bumpy; control was never easy.

Customs opened the game in a hurry; a terrific cross hit with pace by Kittiwut narrowly evaded the head of Customs’ young star striker, Phodchara.

Adisorn’s right side corner was met by Orahovac at the near post but his deflection also took the ball past the far post.

And that really was all that Customs offered in the first half. Not that there was much excitement at the other end. Sumethee made a good catch from a Stewart cross before, after 38 minutes, Chiang Mai produced the best football of the half.

Sarawut’s clearance down the left flank was flicked on my Im into the path of Suwit; not breaking stride he advanced into the area; as the angle narrowed his low shot was well saved by Sumethee.

Two minutes later, Suwit in an almost identical position chose to drag the ball across goal but was unable to find Gustavsson at the far post.

And that was the first half. After the first couple of minutes Chiang Mai had dominated possession in a game mainly played in the Customs half; but had only created the one genuine chance.

It says a lot about the game when the first entertainment of the second half came from the diminutive Kittiwut daring to flatten the mountainous Veljko.

At least Adisorn did get a shot on target for Customs; the ball dipping and bouncing in front of Fahas but it was also straight at the Chiang Mai keeper who had a very quiet night.

At the other end Sumethee made a flying catch in front of Gustavsson from Srithai’s cross. But it was a rare break forward with Chiang Mai largely pinned inside their own half and no one taking control when the ball broke to midfield.

Adisorn’s ball across goal from the left side evaded first Veljko and then, fortunately, both the substitute Di Stefano and Siwakorn.

By this time Kim Bo Yong was looking lonely and weary up front. Suchanon had replaced Gustavsson but played in a deeper position behind rather than alongside the Korean forward.

Into three minutes of injury time and the nearest either side came to scoring. Veljko Filipovic stretched to reach David Cuerva’s chip into the penalty area. The ball looping off the defender, beating Fahas and bouncing off the crossbar.

A sigh of relief.

A point.

Chiang Mai have now played four games at home this season; a single win, two scoreless draws and just two goals.

There are two games this week. Away in the Revo Cup on Wednesday at Uttaradit Saksiam F.C from League 3 North.

And next Sunday a big game away at Ayutthaya United who won 2-1 at Ranong on Friday and are currently the league leaders.