Dateline 21^st February 2020

 FT Rayong FC 1 NRFC 2

Attendance; 3600

In their second away match, the Swatcats were on the East Coast to take on newly promoted Rayong FC.

In a sign of things to come, Leandro Assumpcao went close with a free kick in the fourth minute as the visitors pressed. The home team looked very lively up front with slightly kamikaze intent allowing space at the back at times that the Swatcats looked to exploit, with Amadou in particular continuing to look dangerous.

In the 14^th minute Assumpcao latched onto a smart pass from Amadou and slotted home superbly from 18 yards to give the Swatcats the lead. The Swatcats then defended doggedly as Rayong pressed for an equalizer.

As a largely incident free half drew to a close, the visitors were good value for their one goal lead.

The second half began with Rayong huffing and puffing without producing clear chances, with the visitor’s somewhat agricultural defending keeping them out.

With the game meandering with no real volition from either side, the game burst into life in the 70^th minute when Dennis Murillo wacked in a superbly taken free kick from outside the box - my view from behind the goal suggested a boomerang like swerve in the shot’s flight that deceived a sprawling keeper.

Rayong countered and a free kick just outside the box was inches wide, then real controversary as Rayong were awarded a penalty in the 87^th minute after a VAR review. Keeper Cunningham brilliantly kept the spot kick out but VAR had spotted that he was off his line. The kick was retaken and converted leaving the home side with a sniff of a point. The visitors however remained composed and held on for the three points and a vital victory.

Well a rugged defensive display (I’m still not convinced !!), two tremendous goals from our Brazilians and three points away from home. Our defence will however, continue to be destroyed by better teams. Rayong were bubbly and racy in attack and were unlucky at times but somehow the defence managed to clumsily keep tabs on them.

Murillo is looking good and if we can keep Assumpcao fit, mid table is beckoning - and I for one, will be happy with that!!

Match Day 2 Stats