Under-fire Asnawi Mangkualam has bounced back from a turbulent international break to come off the bench and score Port FC’s winning goal as the Lions of Khlong Toei saw-off the challenge of Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda at the 80th Birthday Stadium in Saturday night’s Thai League 1 action.
Asnawi, who has came under criticism from Indonesia supporters following his poor showing in the Timnas Garuda‘s 2-1 defeat away at China on Tuesday, was introduced in the 77th minute in the place of Teerasak Poeiphimai and it only took him two minutes to score his first goal in Port colors, taking advantage of a goal-mouth skirmish prompted by Kevin Deeromram’s penetration into the Nakhon Ratchasima defense.
The match itself started quite chaotically, as former Melbourne Victory defender Nick Ansell gifted visiting Port the lead after scoring an own-goal in the second minute as he attempted to clear the ball away, only for the Australian to put it past his own goalkeeper.
Buoyed on by their home supporters, Nakhon Ratchasima quickly restored parity five minutes later thanks to a devastating curling free-kick from Deyvison.
The Swatcats then claimed the lead in the 10th minute, with veteran French attacker Greg Houla crossing from the flank towards Phiraphat Khampaeng, who tapped it in with his backheel past Worawut Srisupha in the Port goal.
After a chaotic opening 10 minutes, the match started to settle itself in, with no further goals being scored throughout the remainder of the first half.
Just three minutes into the second half, Port landed themselves an equalizer. A powerful shot from Willen Mota was palmed away by Nakhon Ratchasima goalkeeper Tanachai Noorach, only for the ball to fell onto the path of Felipe Amorim. With precision and seeing Noorach off his position from saving Willen’s earlier effort, former Chiangrai United and Hyderabad FC danger man Felipe easily blasted home into the empty goal.
Then came Asnawi’s moment of magic eleven minutes from full-time – Deeromram bombing down from the flanks as he managed to stir up some chaos within the Nakhon Ratchasima defense, before the Port captain laid the ball off towards the other side of the pitch. Willen tried his best to reach for the ball but the Brazilian couldn’t get his feet to it, however Asnawi was more alert and quickly latched onto the ball, firing home from close range before Noorach could have any time to react.
The win meant that 2nd placed Port has closed the gap onto leaders Buriram United into just one point, however the Thunder Castles have two games in hand compared to Port who has already played all of their 10 games so far.