Dateline 7^th July 2019

 FT Chaing Rai United 1 NRFC 1 

Attendance; 6144

With the Swatcats looking for a positive result after a recent poor run of form, they started with new signing Hartmann up front with Assumpcao missing.

The visitors started adventurously with early pressure, but Chiang Rai had an early chance when William thumped the bar with a shot in the 10^th minute. The hosts then began to dominate with Brinner going close with a header. Almost immediately Henri’s header drifted wide as the Swatcats countered.

The Swatcats settled as the half progressed and were holding their own without creating any real chances, as a rather lackluster half ended goalless with neither side dominating.

The second half saw an early first goal for Chiang Rai when Sivakorn Taitrakal tapped in at the far post after a fine solo run from William. Cunningham was then forced into a save from a close-range header.

At the other end, Akenakat went close with a header from a corner but the visitors were looking stale and sterile up front. Right out of the blue, In the 63rd minute, Hartmann smashed in the equalizer after a fine run from Henri, he then blotted his copybook when he was sent off for a nasty elbow to the face in the 73^rd minute.

 Minutes later, as the Swatcats became more ambitious, a Narupon free kick dipped onto the bar and was cleared.

As the match drifted into time added on, Chiang Rai went close with a near post header, then another header was scrambled away as the home side strived for the winner.

A real battling performance against an under-par Chiang Rai. The Swatcats did not produce much up front which is a continuing worry, but the Hartmann goal was pleasing. The defence looks sound but the important point to emphasize tonight was the fighting spirit shown by the whole squad.

Match Day 17 Stats