Match report
Thai League 2
2022-2023
Saturday 29 October 2022
Chiang Mai FC 2 Suphanburi FC 3
Smash and Grab
Chiang Mai FC:
Fahas
Sarawut
Stewart
Piyachanok
Suwannapat
Saharat Phosri
Srithai
Pongrawit
Ronnayod
Suchanon
Bo Yong Kim
A classic game of two halves saw two excellent second half goals from Suphanburi which enabled the visitors to take all three points and leave CMFC with just one win from five games at the Municipal Stadium this season.
A change in formation this week saw Chiang Mai revert to a back four with Piyachanok replacing Filipovic, maybe in anticipation of two big games later this week.
Stewart returned at right back. Saharat Phosri making a rare start with Ronnayod, Srithai and Pongrawit in midfield. Suchanon playing behind Kim BoYong up front.
Last week’s goalscorer, Im ChangKyoon was absent with an injury picked up at Ayutthaya.
It was Suphanburi who took an early lead. An attack that started down the left saw the ball fall for Souza on the right side of the penalty area. The Brazilian left Sarawut on the ground and hit a low drive across the six yard area; it evaded Saharat but hit Suwannapat who could only deflect the ball into his own goal.
Chiang Mai were quickly on the offensive and would dominate first half possession.
Suchanon blazed a 25 yard free kick narrowly over the crossbar and then dragged a solo effort wide of Phiyawat’s right upright.
Midway through the half Chiang Mai equalized. On the edge of the penalty area Kim BoYong and Saharat exchanged passes allowing Kim into the penalty area where his left foot shot passed under Phiyawat’s dive. The goalkeeper will think he should have done better.
Minutes later Pongrawit’s backheel set Kim on another run into the penalty area; this time from a difficult angle his shot was high and wide. A pass inside for Ronnayod in front of goal was a better option.
Six minutes before half-time and CMFC cleared a Suphanburi corner and attacked with speed and numbers led by the galloping Suchanon. His pass found Pongrawit wide left who was able to hold up the ball before finding Suchanon with enough space to hit a low 20-yard drive into the bottom right corner.
At this stage there was almost a swagger about Chiang Mai’s football. Unfortunately it was not to last.
Suphanburi attacks were rare; Suwannapat sliced his clearance of Jetjinn’s low left wing cross over the crossbar and in first-half injury time Prasit headed Kojima’s free kick narrowly wide.
Chiang Mai were good value for their half time lead. Moving Pongrawit to the left side (he has started on the right) had paid dividends. Which made it a little strange that he spent all of the second half on the right side of midfield.
After the attacking enterprise of the fist half CMFC were defending deeper with the back line and midfield creating a 9 man great wall and Kim BoYong looking lonely up front.
Suphanburi were dictating the game. Souza miscued his shot from 12 yards. Kittipong’s effort from the right side of the penalty area resulted in another Suphanburi corner.
Chiang Mai were relying on quick balls out of defense towards Kim; it nearly paid off when he ran onto Srithai’s fine pass; but a bobbling ball and the time taken to get it under control gave Lee JongCheon and Kittin time to recover. Kim’s eventual shot was straight at Phiyawat.
On the hour Suphanburi were awarded a questionable free kick 25 yards from goal. Souza’s simple sideways pass set up Norraseth and his 25 yard shot flew into Fahas’ top right corner. It was a fabulous strike; though the CMFC defense looked unprepared.
A Ronnayod corner hit the near post upright before another Chiang Mai break from defense. Pongrawit released Stewart and his low cross was just too hard for Kim whose instinctive left foot reaction ballooned the ball over the crossbar.
At this stage Suphanburi were making it all too clear that a point was sufficient as players started to spend more time on their backs than their feet.
But they saw an opportunity. Souza ran into a big space between Sarawut and PIyachanok on the edge of the penalty area. Panuphong chipped the ball forward from halfway; Souza needed one touch to pull the ball out of the air; a second touch to take the ball away from Fahas and a third touch to roll it into an empty net.
There was time for a couple of half chances for Amornthep but Suphanburi hung on for their third away win of the season without too much discomfort.
A game that Chiang Mai had looked in control of at half-time had slipped away. Disappointing. But credit Suphanburi, who are resilient and who work hard for eachother.
The games come quickly over the next two weeks; a FA Cup tie with Bangkok United on Wednesday 2nd and a League 2 game against Chiang Mai United at the 700th Anniversary stadium next Saturday