Obb Deewajin
Football Tribe Thailand
Matchday 19 of the Thai League (T1) pits the in-form PTT Rayong against a Port FC side winless in their last 5 league games. In their previous matches, the Firepower has blazed past their opponents to record three straight wins, scoring seven and conceding only one. Teerasak Po-On’s men currently occupy 6th position on the T1 table, the highest they have reached this season and only five points away from 5th place Port.
25-year-old attacking midfielder Saharat Kanyaroj has been Rayong’s standout performer thus far and is fully fit to start behind the pace and energy of striker-duo Apiwat Pengprakone and Dennis Murillo. Speaking via the club’s official website, Teerasak has repeated the importance of home form if the team is going to achieve its target of a top-half finish. Beating Port FC at the PTT Stadium would a perfect way to make that statement, considering the Lions poor record of just 3 wins out of 8 away games this season.
Their midweek FA Cup triumph over fierce-rivals Muangthong United surely gave Jadet Meelarp and his men massive confidence boost. However, the football on display wasn’t much to cheer about, so we can pretty much expect to see him continue chopping and changing the starting XI and tactics.
On Sunday, 2018 overperformers Nakhon Ratchasima FC face off against this year’s counterpart Trat FC. The White Elephant are on a run of 4 straight loss while the Swatcat is yet to win a single T1 away game since early March at Ratchaburi.
Now to the game of the weekend as league leaders Buriram United welcome third place Bangkok United. Both sides fielded strong teams in their midweek cup ties, as Buriram destroyed Rayong FC via Nacer Barazite’s hattrick while Jaycee John put three past Police Tero for Bangkok, so both teams are in equally positive momentum and should hold no major fitness advantage over one another.
The Angels never beat Buriram at the Chang Arena but came extremely close twice last season only to be denied by Sasalak Haiprakhon’s 87th winner in the league and from the penalty spot in the FA Cup. Luckily for the visitors, Nelson Bonilla is pm lethal form, netting three times from his last two outings, and could do serious damages against a Buriram defense lacking the commanding presence of Andres Tunez and the suspended Apiwat Ngualamhin.
As for the home side, they’ll be delighted with the return of attacking midfielder Supachok Sarachat whilst Sasalak Haiprakhon playing the best football of senior career – stepping up as his team’s main output from the flank. New-signing Barazite also looks to be adapting well to life in the Northeast, getting involved constantly with the Thunder Castle’s forward play.
Last week Bozidar Bandovic’men struggled against a cautious Prachuap side, however, facing Bangkok United is a whole different game. Bandovic has shown, time after time, the quality to set up his team in an organized manner, absorb pressure, before springing a threatening counter-attack.
At the SCG Stadium, Alexandre Gama entertains his former Chiangrai United. Speaking via the club’s channel, advisor and former-chairman Miti Tiyapairat have stressed their intention to beat Muangthong United – and that the only way to so is by aiming for the kill. With just a single point separating them and the top spot, the Beetles “have never been this close into the title challenge before”. As a result, expect a heated tactical battle between two head coaches which belong to the ‘pragmatist’ school of football.