Dateline 8th November
2017 – Match day 32.
FT Chang Rai United 1 NRFC 0
Fresh from their recent 2 cup
semi-final victories, Chang Rai will be hoping to add the scalp of their Isaan based
rivals tonight. They started with an under strength eleven, with their eyes
undoubtedly on their upcoming Cup Finals.
The match opened with an uneventful
first 20 minutes with neither side able to muster shots on goal but in the 22nd
minute the game burst into life as keeper Weera was forced to tip over a
vicious dipping volley from Chang Rai. The match then descended again into a
dour midfield tussle with a decidedly end of season feel but the Beetles again
went close in the 30th minute with an angled drive drifting wide.
The Swatcats ended the first half
with a looping header going over the bar after good work from Rangel - in truth
the visitor’s only real chance of the half.
A dreadful and uninspiring first
half with neither side seeming to desire the 3 points on offer - perhaps a
point apiece might be what both sides will be content with.
The second half began how the first
half ended, with little attacking prowess shown by either team. I have a
feeling that goals will only come from defensive errors. In the 60th
minute Adiyiah shot tamely over as the ping-pong midfield battles of no
consequence continued.
In the 82nd minute, a
clumsy challenge by Anthibordee gave the home side a chance to go ahead but the
shot was tame and comfortably saved by the keeper. The Swatcats meanwhile
probed forward but with little effect.
In the 95th minute Chang
Rai scrambled in a late winner after a defensive mix up when keeper Weera came
for a cross and was clattered by his own man - an undeserved winner in my
opinion, robbing the Swatcats of a valuable away point.
A spectacle it was not - sure it’s
the end of season but surely the few fans present deserve better than this. I
had to use matchsticks to keep my eyes open and surely a prime example of why
fans are turning their backs on the TPL. A game with 3 shots of note from both
sides, with little or no goalmouth incident is not, in my opinion, real entertainment.
I suppose that Chang Rai might be
forgiven as they fielded a weakened side but the Swatcats should have offered
more.
Match day 32 Stats
No comments:
Post a Comment