Six teams fight for TPL survival on last day
Chonburi, Bangkok United make dash for third
As the curtain falls on the Thai Premier League today, six teams will be fighting to elude two tickets that bring along the ignominy of spending a year in the lower tier.
Unbeaten Buriram United retained the crown last month with three matches to spare, shortly after claiming the League Cup trophy.
SCG Muang Thong United are already assured of second place despite indifferent form of late, while spineless TOT are destined for relegation following a lacklustre run throughout the season, leaving two more teams to be demoted today.
Chonburi, Bangkok United and Bangkok Glass will be gunning for third place, which would earn them a play-off spot to qualify for next year’s AFC Champions League main draw.
Suphanburi are also in contention to finish behind Buriram and Muang Thong. However, they are unlikely to play in the AFC Champions League because their stadium has failed to meet the standards set by the Asian football governing body.
The six teams who will make their last-ditch efforts to remain in the top flight are Navy (32 points), Saraburi (32), BEC Tero Sasana (32), Port (33), Chainat (34) and Si Sa Ket (35).
Si Sa Ket, Chainat and Port have their fate in their own hands, as wins today will guarantee their TPL status regardless of results of other games.
However, a win may not be enough for BEC, Saraburi and Navy to avoid demotion as they may have to rely on other results going in their favour.
If two teams finish level on points, their head-to-head record will determine their final position.
If more than two teams finish with the same points, the results of matches among the teams involved will serve as a mini-league to decide their rankings.
In midweek, BEC Tero, whose fate rests in the inexperienced hands of caretaker coach Rangsan Viwatchaichok, the team captain, didn’t help their cause as they let champions Buriram net a late equaliser.
They did move out of the relegation zone on goal difference, but they are still perilously placed, needing a win away in Chiang Rai today.
BEC Tero will go into the match without two key players — injured Tristan Do, who is out for the season, and Tanaboon Ketsarat, who will be undergoing a nose surgery.
Navy, currently in 17th position, clash with Army United at their home ground in Sattahip knowing that only a win will do if they want to stay in the top flight.
Saraburi will be hoping that they don’t complete a hat-trick of losses when they travel to Chonburi to take on the Sharks who are desperate to claim third spot.
Si Sa Ket are at home today but have the tough task of upstaging a strong Bangkok Glass side.
Port have an even tougher assignment against Buriram, who will be keen to finish the league with an unbeaten record.
Buriram United, who are also aiming for a treble as they are in the FA Cup final with Muang Thong United, are the only Thai team to be granted a place in the 2016 Champions League main draw.
Muang Thong, who face Nakhon Ratchasima at SCG Stadium, have to win two play-off games to make in to the AFC Champions League group stage and the same fate awaits the club finishing third in the Thai league today.