Southeast Asia Thailand

Poramet Seals Derby with Late Goal as Kongthep, Nualphan Questions Referee

Last weekend’s Thai League 1 matches saw the latest chapter of the Muangthong-Tharuea Derby with Port FC being on a receiving end of a comeback as Muangthong United rally back from two goals down to seal the tie 3-2. Poramet Arjvirai was the hero for the Twin Qilins as his 88th goal seals all three points for Mario Gjurovski’s men.

Last Sunday’s rivalry clash at the PAT Stadium saw Port going 2-0 up at the end of the first half, with Brazilian striker Hamilton Soares opening the scoring in the 16th minute before former Chonburi FC youngster Worachit Kanitsribampen doubling the Lions of Khlong Toei’s lead in the 29th minute.

However, Muangthong fought back in the second half, slashing the deficit by half in the 59th minute courtesy of Kenyan striker Eric Johana Omondi, before the Twin Qilins sealed their equalizer in the 85th minute through a Willian Popp penalty. Three minutes later, Poramet seals the win with a well-worked goal that capped off a superb counterattacking move that stretched out the Port defense.

While Gjurovski praised his side’s resilience and fighting spirit in the match’s aftermath, Port’s co-head coach Surapong Kongthep and chairwoman Nualphan Lamsan voiced their disappointment towards the match’s referee, who had controversially gave Muangthong the late penalty that allowed the Twin Qilins to mount their fightback.

Both Kongthep and Nualphan felt that Elias Dolah did not foul Poramet in the penalty’s buildup, calling into question the effectiveness of VAR in the Thai League, while Nualphan slammed the league’s referees in her Facebook post, stating that while Port had conceded the most penalties, the Lions of Khlong Toei were awarded the least amount of spot kicks in this season’s Thai League 1.