Dateline 25^th June 2016

 Muangthong United 4 NRFC 1

Top of the league Muangthong took on the resurgent Swatcats at the SCG Stadium. The visitors hoping to continue their positive run of results, the hosts hoping to maintain their “top of the pile” status.

This fixture is a repeat of the season opener in which MT snatched a 1-0 victory.

As the game commenced, the visitors weathered the early expected pressure with Muangthong unable to make their early chances pay. Some desperate defending and mediocre finishing kept the Swatcat’s goal line intact. 72% possession in the first 30 minutes of play by the hosts indicated the dominance of the league leaders.

In the 32^nd minute a deflected shot eluded the keeper to give the hosts a deserved lead. Then there followed a further period of constant pressure by the hosts, but on 44 minutes Tagbajumi broke through the middle and slid in an unexpected equalizer - a fine solo effort.

On the stroke of half time the home team regained the lead with a close range shot following a corner.

At half time, at 2-1 the Swatcats were still in the game but clearly playing second fiddle to a talented Muangthong outfit.

The second half quickly saw a fine save from a long range shot by the visitor’s keeper. NRFC countered with a fine effort from a confident Tagbajumi, tipped over by the home keeper.

Muangthong went further ahead with a short range tap in on 54 minutes after a fine break down the left flank. Minutes later the “on fire” Tagbajumi had a goal disallowed for offside after fine work from Chivuta and Lindemann.

MT continued to exert pressure, again dominating possession and producing a couple of decent chances in the process. The Swatcats countered sporadically with Lindemann looking classy in midfield at times but really there was only one team in this contest.

 Muangthong added a fourth goal on 82 minutes to give the score a rather flattering look. A late free kick by Muangthong rattled the bar as they closed out a rather comfortable evening’s work at the SCG Stadium.

Clearly outclassed but not disgraced by the season’s top PLT team. Good spirit and resolute defending kept the score line semi respectable. On balance another pretty solid performance but with no reward – further evidence I believe of the team’s ability to escape relegation.