Dateline 16^th September 2017 – Match day 27.

 FT Bangkok United 2 NRFC 0

The Swatcats took on The Angels from Bangkok in what promised to be a challenging match for the men from Isaan. High flying Bangkok will be hoping to hold onto the coat tails of MuangThong and Buriram whilst the Swatcats will be striving to stretch further away from relegation woes.

In the ghostly atmosphere of a near empty stadium and with the Swatcats wearing their Man City lookalike sky blue kit the match kicked off with the home team launching a series of early raids forward. 

The Angels took early control of the match with the visitors being forced back but in the 10^th minute, with rain lashing down, Pina drew a fine save from the keeper with a snap shot. The rain now became a torrent and the game was reduced to a comical farce as both sides struggled with the waterlogged pitch.

In the 16^th minute Bangkok went close with a header flashing narrowly over as the visitors struggled with the home team’s pressure but with the ball sticking dangerously on the drenched pitch,, hoofing the ball seemed to be the order of the day, with any sort of pretty passing movements impossible!!

In the 30^th minute in a rare Swatcat foray forward, Pina was inches wide with an angled drive after good work from Adiyiah and a minute later Adiyiah found himself clear in the box but was unable to convert. Bangkok countered and Boscovic produced a bullet header in the 36^th minute which was brilliantly kept out by keeper Weera. Weera made another superb save minutes later when Mario Duroski surged forward to put in an angled drive.

Bangkok broke the deadlock in the 48^th minute when Terratep Winothai stroked in after a fine through ball put him clear, a deserved lead after some late first half pressure.

In a half of few chances, possibly due to the conditions, the Swatcats had battled gamely to contain the home team and in fact had created a couple of real chances against the run of play.

The second half commenced and as the rain continued to lash down, the visitors spurned a great chance when Adiyiah shot over from 8 yards. Bangkok then pushed forward and went two up when Tavares nodded in on 53 minutes.

In the 63^rd minute Rangel had a great chance to half the deficit but his weak header strayed wide, minutes later, Boscovic shot inches wide with Weera well beaten.

The Swatcats managed some useful second half possession but were unable to threaten the Bangkok goal and with the hosts continuing to be dangerous, the result rarely looked to be in doubt.

In the dying minutes a well struck Rangel free kick was inches over and as the conditions worsened, I am guessing that both teams were eager to get things over with and to climb into a hot bath

Bangkok looked a more polished side tonight - a team of talented individuals that was too strong for the men from Korat in all departments. The Swatcats did create chances but were not clinical enough to convert those chances into goals.

Luckily for the Swatcats, below them, Si Saket were beaten 5-1 by Buriram and Sukhothai only picked up a single point. A win against Navy on Wednesday is vital!!

Match Day 27 Stats