Obb Deewajin
Football Tribe Thailand
This Saturday, PTT Rayong welcome struggling Muangthong United and played out a greatly entertaining 2-2 draw. The Firepower overwhelmed Yoon Jong-Hwan’s midfield with a 4-4-2 diamond formation. Outnumbered 3 to 4 centrally, Muangthong were simply powerless to pass their way through Rayong’s pressure.
PTT Rayong took the lead in the 46th minute through striker Ariel Rodríguez. The Costa Rica international could and should have scored a hattrick in the first half, as Muangthong’s defense was left massively exposed.
Coach Yoon brought Charyl Chappuis on for winger Phituckchai Limraksa to match Rayong’s midfield battle and equalized via Heberty Fernandes’s penalty in the 66th, minute only to go behind again seconds after kickoff thanks to a second from Ariel Rodríguez.
In danger of 2 straight defeat, a disappointing Teerasil Dangda was substituted off for Mario Gjurovski. The maverick attacker scored the equalizer after only 3 minutes on the pitch. The Muangthong legend returns to the club at the start of the season but has only featured once, an 18-minute cameo on matchday 1, and was heavily rumored to be released in the next transfer window.
Before that match, on Friday, Chiangrai visited unbeaten Sukhothai. After 8 mediocre performances, which sees 7 draws and only 1 win, the Fire Bats finally suffered their first defeat of the season as they were beaten 3-2 by their northern visitors. The 2 times FA Cup winners maintained their 3 place position for 3 weeks straight, while Sukhothai are left only a point above the relegation zone,
Lastly, Sunday saw Chonburi FC and PT Prachuap FC collapse away against Nakhonratchasima FC and Bangkok United respectively. Meanwhile, Buriram United just about edged their match against Ratchaburi FC with a 2-1 victory thanks to an own goal and a penalty. The Thunder Castle remain 2nd, 4 points from league leaders Port FC with a game in hand.