Thai League 2 Weekly Roundup with Phil Williams

Matchweek One

Welcome to the first Thai League 2 round-up of the new season. Friday night’s game at Uttaradit was a total washout, but the rest of the weekend served up some proper storylines: Chainat Hornbill were the pick of the opening-day winners, Kanchanaburi Power’s title credentials got an early airing thanks to the ever-reliable John Baggio, and a 5,000 sell-out in Satun showed the crowds are still turning out even when the football doesn’t always live up to it. Here’s how matchweek one played out. (Simon Causton)

Chainat Hornbill 3 – 1 Phrae United

A brace for Mubarak Ahmed and a goal for Elijah Douglas gave the Hornbills an impressive victory over Phrae at the Khao Plong Stadium.

Police Tero 1 – 0 Muang Loei United

A 59th-minute strike from midfielder Sirawat got Police Tero over the line, but neither side was convincing on a rainy night in north Bangkok.

Nongbua Pichaya 2 – 0 Kasetsart FC

A comfortable victory for The Gamecocks, with the only surprise being that they didn’t go on to score more. First-half goals from Peeranan and Luan Costa did the damage, and it was pretty much game over after just 22 minutes.

PT Satun 2 – 4 Kanchanaburi Power

A terrific 5,000 sell-out crowd at the Satun Stadium roared the home side to a 2-1 lead at the interval. But Kanchanaburi — one of the title favourites — showed their quality in the second period, with the evergreen John Baggio providing a goal and a couple of assists. The little man could be a joy to watch this season.

Mahasarakham 1 – 1 Songkhla

In another match played in atrocious conditions, Brazilian centre-forward Gildo scored on debut to hand Mahasarakham an early lead. But Mosquito’s 48th-minute equaliser meant the Similian Mermaids, the team with the worst away record in T2 last season, returned home with a point from the north east.

Chiang Mai United 0 – 1 Pattaya United

Tiago Chulapa made the perfect start to his Pattaya United career, heading in a 74th-minute winner. A deserved away win for The Dolphins in front of almost a thousand at the 100th Anniversary Sports Stadium.

Nakhon Pathom 2 – 2 Nakhon Ratchisima

An entertaining contest, this one. The home side went in front within five minutes, care of Nuttapong Chuekamut from close range. But the much-fancied Nakhon Ratchisima stormed back with two goals in the second half. Alas, all their hard work was undone as Nakhon Pathom substitute Pheemphaphob popped up for an injury-time equaliser.

Chantaburi 0 – 1 Khon Kaen United

An excellent crowd of over 3,000 at the Chantaburi Stadium, but the majority went home disappointed as poor defending from The Rabbits handed Khon Kaen the only goal of the game — a 45th-minute low strike from Chitsanupong Choti.

Uttaradit FC 0 – 0 Muangthong United

Prolonged rainfall and a heavily waterlogged pitch reduced this T2 curtain-raiser to an absolute farce. Read nothing into this game apart from the fact it should have been abandoned before kick-off, and Thai football in the rainy season is too often a complete waste of time.

Phil Williams is co-host of the Chiang Mai is Blue Podcast.

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