Gian Chansrichawla
Football Tribe SEA Editor
Chonburi FC jumped up to seventh place in the Thai League table after a 3-0 home victory over PTT Rayong on Sunday, in a game delayed from last weekend’s Matchday 28.
It took the hosts eight minutes to break through what was considered to be a tight defense to crack, with Brazilian striker Herlison Caion getting his name on the scoresheet. Panuphong Wongsa’s cross was allowed to bounce at the edge of the six-yard box due to a defensive lapse, and Caion made no mistake in sneaking behind Victor Igbonefo to meet the ball with a diving header.
PTT Rayong thought they had leveled the scoring from a corner kick in the 35th minute, with Victor Cardozo alleging that his effort had crossed the line. The ball eventually came back off the angrily appealing defender, resulting in nothing more than a goal kick.
Chonburi survived a number of attacks from Rayong before the break and doubled their lead in the 50th minute to give themselves a much-needed cushion in the match. Caion skipped past his countryman Victor on the break and found Teerathep Winothai free at the back post. The Sharks’ new fan-favorite convincingly beat Peerapong Ruenin on the half-volley, giving the visitors a mountain to climb.
Caion then got himself a second and his team a third just ten minutes later, slipping past a Rayong defense that had seemingly frozen in anticipation of an offside flag that never came.
Dennis Murillo almost pulled one back for his side with an ambitious effort on the turn, but his shot only managed to clip the post. The final result saw his side leave without a goal in their 3-0 defeat.
This result saw Chonburi jump to seventh place in the table, effectively confirming their place in the division for next season if it was ever in any doubt before. Even with the defeat, PTT Rayong remain seven points clear with three games left to go, making relegation incredibly unlikely for the promoted side.
The five sides below them remain mired in a relegation battle which looks to drag on until the final day. Three of Chiangmai, Chainat, Sukhothai, Suphanburi and Nakhon Ratchasima will find themselves playing in T2 next season, and at this moment it remains unclear which those three will be.