Gian Chansrichawla
Football Tribe Thailand
After establishing themselves as the early leaders in the Thai League this season, Port’s fortunes took a dour turn as they lost their place at the league summit to Buriram and Chiangrai. A six-game winless run saw them drop to 5th by Matchday 19, but the appointment of former Thailand U23 National Team coach Choktawee Promrut sparked a revival which has seen them get back in the thick of the title race.
As the Klongtoei side host Nakhon Ratchasima in a game postponed from two weeks prior due to torrid weather, they know that a win will put them just two points behind the two sides tied for first place.
However, it will not be a straightforward game by any stretch. Korat finally played their first game under new coach Chalermwut Sa-ngapol, putting Samut Prakan City to the sword with a 4-1 win after dominating in terms of chance creation for the entirety of the match.
Sitting in 12th place, four points above the relegation zone, a win would be vital in ensuring that the Swatcats avoid falling into a sticky situation in the final days of the season. With a game against Buriram in store next, before six-pointers against Chainat and Sukhothai respectively, the end of the season could be a nerve-wracking one for Nakhon Ratchasima if they get a poor result today.
Korat’s main strength comes from their front three – Amadou Ouattara, Bernard Henry, and Leandro Assumpcao – and their ability to expose spaces on the counter-attack. Choktawee has shown tactical flexibility in recent weeks, especially in their recent win over Bangkok United, to make his side more balanced than ex-coach Jadet’s team, and more resistant to being hit on the counter. Seeing out this game will be a major test of how far they’ve come in terms of discipline and organization under his management, and will be crucial to see how far they can go in this nail-biting title race.