Gian Chansrichawla
Football Tribe SEA Editor
The weekend began in Suphanburi, where the War Elephants were visited by Samut Prakan City. Both clubs had new men standing in the dugout after coach resignations during the international break. Suphanburi boss Totchtawan Sripan departed with the side rooted to the bottom, to be replaced by former coach Adebayo Gbadebo. Meanwhile, Surapong Kongthep parted ways with Samut Prakan City, leading sporting director Tetsuya Murayama to step into the coaching role.
Despite being expected to drop after the departure of coach Surapong, Samut Prakan City dominated the game and took the lead in the 26th minute, when Jakkaphan Praisuwan’s free-kick struck the hand a defender in the penalty area. Captain Peeradol Chamratsamee stepped up and converted the chance from 12 yards to give his side the lead.
The visitors then went on to dominate the remainder of the match, seeing out the 1-0 victory. This result means that Suphanburi have now gone a total of 407 minutes without scoring a single goal; a barren run which leaves them staring down the barrel at a probable relegation to T2.
Another side with aspirations of breaking into the league’s top five was Nakhon Ratchasima, who took to the pitch against Chainat Hornbill in the day’s late kickoff. Despite threatening the hosts with their all-action pressing approach and stellar hold-up play from forward Ricardo Santos, they were unable to break past the Swatcat’s typically tight defense.
The hosts eventually took the lead in the 38th minute, when Leandro Assumpcao found himself in space at the edge of the box after a well-worked set-piece routine and converted Bernard Henry’s low cross with a first-time half volley into the far corner of the net. The Brazilian then doubled their advantage in the 50th minute with a well-struck free kick which nestled perfectly in the top corner to seal three points for the hosts.
Trat FC climbed as high as fourth place before Sunday night’s action, as the newly promoted side put on yet another classy display on home turf against a lackluster Sukhothai side. Goals from Lonsana Doumbouya and Fola Durosimni either side of half-time sealed a fourth consecutive win for the White Elephants.
Elsewhere, Chiangrai United were held to a goalless draw away against Prachuap. The side have now dropped to fifth in the standings and could slip even further with sixth-place Bangkok United in action tonight.