A Glimpse into the Lower Echelons

Thai League 2 Weekly Roundup with Phil Williams

The Play-Off Stakes

The play-off semi-final first legs got under way this weekend, and the tension is palpable. Before we dive into the goals, here is a fun fact: only once in the past five seasons has the team playing the away leg first FAILED to make the final. Historically, second leg home advantage counts big time! Let's see if the sides at home this weekend have done enough to buck that trend before heading out on the road. (Simon Causton)

Chainat Hornbill 1 - 3 Pattani FC

Pattani FC put a foot in the T2 final with an impressive away win at Chainat - and a captain's performance for the ages from Marlon Silva. The Brazilian centre-half's downward header gave the visitors the lead on 12 minutes, with Imron Hayiyusoh making it 2-0 in the 61st. Amarildo Junior pulled a goal back for the Hornbills, but Pattani immediately restored their two-goal advantage with another well-taken goal from Marlon Silva. The result should make next Saturday's second leg down at The Rainbow Stadium a relative formality. But this is Thai League 2 - and anything can happen. Fun fact: Pattani have the second best away record in T2 this season, only bettered by the champions Rasisalai United.

Police Tero 2 - 1 Nongbua Pichaya

Police Tero edged a win over Nongbua in front of almost 2,000 at the NT Stadium, and take a one-goal advantage into the second leg in the north-east next weekend. Nongbua defender Wuttichai Marom turned the ball into his own net after just four minutes to gift Police Tero an early lead, but it took until early in the second half for the home side to establish a two-goal cushion with a goal from Brazilian striker Pedro. Two-nil would've been a very useful margin to defend in the second leg, but Jardel Capistrano reduced arrears for The Gamecocks just before the hour mark. And in truth, the away side deserved it - playing their part in what was a very even contest. It's still all to play for back at the Pichaya Stadium on Saturday! Fun fact: This season, the two league meetings between these two sides produced a whopping 16 goals!

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

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