Indonesia’s very own Asnawi Mangkualam continues to show why he’s one of the best wing-backs in Southeast Asia, as he helped Port FC snatch two wins from their last two matches. The Lions of Khlong Toei toppled league leaders Buriram United 1-0 at the Chang Arena over the weekend, before thumping second-tier side Chonburi FC 4-0 in Wednesday’s 2024/25 Thai League Cup action.
Asnawi played the full 90 minutes as Port inflicted Buriram their first domestic home defeat of the season. Playing in a back five alongside Suphanat Bureerat, Chalermsak Aukee, Chinnawat Wongchai, and Chaiyawat Buran, Asnawi helped Port keep Buriram’s lethal attackers in Suphanat Mueanta, Martin Boakye, and Guilherme Bissoli at bay, with the Thunder Castles unable to penetrate the Port defense despite dominating proceedings.
Port’s hard-fought win was secured thanks to Wongchai’s 25th minute goal, after the defender had latched onto a Sittha Boonlha ball following a Worachit Kanitsribampen corner. Upon receiving the ball, Wongchai acted quickly and rifled in his shot from point-blank range, leaving Neil Etheridge in the Buriram goal utterly dumbstruck as Port took the lead that they would never relinquish.
The win was Wasapol Kaewpluk’s first as Port head coach, with the 41-year old, formerly Alexandre “Mano” Polking’s assistant at both True Bangkok United and the Thailand national team, having taken over the position in late January.
Wasapol then took his Port charges to the east coast of Thailand on Wednesday to take on fallen giants Chonburi for the 2024/25 Thai League Cup first round. In that match, Asnawi was named on the bench as Wasapol named a rather-changed Port side from the one that stunned Buriram in the weekend.
With a Peniel Mlapa penalty and a goal from Felipe Amorim giving Port a healthy 2-0 lead in half-time, Wasapol threw Asnawi into the fray in the place of Buran, and the former PSM Makassar man took the chance given to him with both hands.
Just after one minute on the pitch, Asnawi passed the ball short to Anon Amornlerdsak, with the veteran midfielder smashing it home past Chonburi goalkeeper Chommapat Boonloet to make it 3-0 to Port.
Asnawi then showed off his magic again in the 68th minute, with his cross from the left flank being headed past Boonloet by Felipe, sealing Port’s win and with it, progression to the second round of the Thai League Cup.
Asnawi’s contributions did not went unnoticed amongst the Port supporters, who all voiced their delight over his current form.
In the next round of the Thai League Cup, Port will face-off against Thai League 1 basement dwellers Khonkaen United on February 26th, but before that the Lions of Khlong Toei will face a stern test in the form of an away trip to BG Pathum United in February 9th’s league action.