The second round of the 2022/23 Thai League Cup was played out on Wednesday, with the headline match being the latest edition of the Thailand Clasico at the Thunderdome Stadium between hosts Muangthong United and Buriram United. A late Lucas Rocha own-goal settled the match in Nonthaburi Province, with Buriram securing passage into the quarterfinals thanks to a narrow 2-1 win.
Highly-rated youngster Suphanat Mueanta, fresh off a training camp at Premier League side Leicester City, opened the scoring for Buriram in the 37th minute. The 19-year old winger was the fastest to react towards a quickly-taken Buriram free-kick from outside the box, smashing home a venomous shot that was no match for Muangthong goalkeeper Pathiwat Khammai.
The Thunder Castles tried their best to add more to their advantage, however disaster struck in the 80th minute after Muangthong’s Kenyan attacker Eric Johana Omondi was fouled in the area by Buriram’s Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka. Willian Popp, who was tasked in taking the spot-kick, successfully sent the ball above a diving Siwarak Tedsungnoen to draw things level for the hosts.
As the Twin Qilins tried to hang on to force extra-time, Buriram managed to nick themselves a late winner in the 88th minute. A Suphanat cross from the right wing was inadvertently knocked into Pathiwat’s goal by Rocha, settling the Thailand Clasico and ensuring that Buriram would advance into the quarterfinals at the expense of their arch-rivals.
Wednesday’s second round matches also saw several other teams booking their spots in the quarterfinals.
Ratchaburi FC managed to see off a stubborn Nongbua Pitchaya at the Dragon Solar Park in Ratchaburi Province, with the Dragons edging out the Gamecocks 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in the round’s only other all-Thai League 1 affair.
Meanwhile, True Bangkok United cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win away at Thai League 3 side Phitsanulok FC, while BG Pathum United had to rely on a 74th minute Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul winner to go past Thai League 2 side Nakhon Pathom United, with the Glass Rabbits hanging on to a 3-2 victory away at the King Tigers.
PT Prachuap had no trouble whatsoever against another Thai League 2 side, with the Killer Wasps easily crushing second-tier high-flyers Ayutthaya United 5-0, as Lamphun Warrior also eased themselves into the quarterfinals with a straightforward 2-0 win away at Thai League 3 side Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi.
Thai League 1 strugglers Khonkaen United and Lampang FC suffered the ignominy of being knocked out of this season’s Thai League Cup at the hands of lower-league sides. Khonkaen United succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away at Chiangmai FC of the Thai League 2, while Thai League 3 side Samut Songkhram FC continued their giant-killing run after eliminating Lampang 1-0 at the Samut Sakhon Central Provincial Stadium. By knocking the Emerald Chariots out of the competition, Samut Songkhram had claimed their second Thai League 1 scalp of the season, with the Mackerels having eliminated Port FC with the same score-line in the previous round.