Thai League 2 2022-2023 – Friday 10 March 2023
Suphanburi FC 1 Chiang Mai FC 0
Chiang Mai FC:
Fahas
Sarawin
Sarawut
Suwannapat
Piyachanok
Ronnayod
Srithai
Im ChangKyoon
Tawan
Kim BoYong
Suchanon
This hurt. Even more.
But I have been told that I complain too much. Back to school – and write 100 lines of “I will not complain.”
Douglas Tardin’s 44th minute opportunism gave Suphanburi all three points on an unpleasantly warm Friday night that leave the home team four points clear at the top of the table before the weekend’s remaining fixtures.
CMFC rested Filipovic and played with Piyachanok and Suwannapat at centre half. Srithai came in for Saharat Posri.
Despite the long bus ride to Suphanburi, and the early evening heat, Chiang Mai started on the front foot reflecting the confident style they had shown against Ayutthaya.
Three minutes into the game Tawan’s direct run into the Suphanburi penalty area was halted by a last ditch tackle from Lee JongCheon (15) who was hurt making the challenge. He would be replaced shortly after when he uncomfortably halted Suchanon in the penalty area with the help of Phiyawat (18) in goal.
A Matheus Souza (33) free kick was blocked by the CMFC wall and Kittipong (10) headed over a cross from Rachanon (3) on the Suphanburi right.
Twenty minutes gone and Sarawin’s pass in behind the defense released Im ChangKyoon whose low cross from the by-line arrived awkwardly for Suchanon under pressure from Panuphong (21) and the danger was cleared.
Phiyawat was then quickly off his line to beat Kim BoYong to a ball chipped over the backline.
A CMFC giveaway in midfield allowed Rachanon to release Tardin (9) between the two centre backs for a run on goal. The offside call was in CMFC’s favour but was marginal at best.
Then, with half time whistle looming Jetjinn’s (2) ball forward did not look threatening; a rebound off Sarawut allowed the ball to roll into the path of Tardin who reacted quickly, took one touch and thumped the ball home from twelve yards.
There were two immediate changes for Chiang Mai at the start of the second half with Hirayama and Pongrawit on for Tawan and Lim.
Pongrawit ‘s 25 yard free kick was curled on target where Phiyawat made a good save diving to his left to turn the ball away.
Sarawin halted the run of the lively Nethithorn (39) on the edge of the penalty area. Pongrawit was booked and Piyachanok followed soon after for a spectacular late tackle on Patipan (14)….practising for the Chiang Mai derby? A last chance for Chiang Mai came as Pongrawit’s cross was headed on by Suchanon for Hirayama but, pushed too far left of goal, his shot sliced wide.
When CMFC should have been chasing the game, too much of our football was square or even backwards. We should not be frightened of taking chances doing the unusual in the pursuit of a win or even a point; for instance playing Filipovic up front for 20 minutes.
We CMFC have now to score in five of our last six games and only nine points in ten games in 2023 tells its own story. It was also our third successive 0-1 defeat.
Not a complaint – just a statement of facts!
There is a confidence issue in front of goal – and it is unclear how, and if, it can be solved.
Suphanburi meanwhile may not look like they have the depth or quality of a promotion team but they continue to eke out results; away games at Nakhon Pathom and Nakhon Si United may determine how they finish the season.
Next up for CMFC is the Chiang Mai derby at the Municipal Stadium on Wednesday 15th. More details on that game at the start of the week. And next weekend we are away at Trat on the 18th. It is a busy week.