Kirins hope to roar in Brisbane
SCG Muang Thong United coach Totchtawan Sripan is hoping his jaded men will have enough left in the tank to hold Brisbane Roar and return home with a point from their AFC Champions League (ACL) Group E opener today.
The reigning Thai League 1 champions are in Australia to kick off their bid for a place in the last 16 of the ACL against a Brisbane team who reached the group stage after beating Carlos Tevez-led Shanghai Shenhua in a play-off.
Totchtawan told a pre-match press conference yesterday: “We played an away match in the local league on Friday and the following day took a long flight to get here for the match.
“The players are tired and the weather here is also very different from back home.
“But we are here to do a job. I am hoping that all this travelling will not take a heavy toll on us and we will have enough energy to hold our opponents.”
Totchtawan added: “We have studied their [Brisbane Roar’s] game from their play-off with Shanghai Shenhua. They are a strong team. However, we will still be trying our best to get a point from this match.”
Kirins captain and striker Teerasil Dangda, echoing his coach, added: “It is always difficult to play an Australian team, be it at the international or club level. We are seeking a draw to boost the team’s confidence ahead of other matches.”
John Aloisi, Brisbane Roar coach and former Australia international, said: “I don’t think this game will be easy for us. Muang Thong have good team work so we will not be focusing on any particular players.
“However, their captain Teerasil Dangda is a dangerous player and has been with a La Liga team in Spain.
“[Playmaker] Chanathip Songkrasin and [forward] Xisco Jimenez also have good technique so we will be keeping a watchful eye on these three.”
The match will kick off at 5pm (Thai time) today and will be televised live by Fox Sports 2.
In today’s other Group E match, Kashima Antlers of Japan take on South Korea’s Hyundai Ulsan.
UBON, PORT VICTORIOUS
Newcomers Ubon UMT United once again made an impressive case for acknowledgment as they trounced Thai League 1 veterans Ratchaburi 4-1 late on Sunday night.
Victor Cardozo gave Ubon a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute and Kornprom Jaroonpong added a second during first-half injury time.
A minute into the second half, Tiago Souza netted Ubon’s third goal with Bajram Nebihi also scoring soon after to make it 4-0 to the hosts. Ratchaburi’s only goal came from Marcel Essombe in the 58th minute.
It was Ubon’s second win in as many games in their first ever season in the top flight.
At PAT Stadium, hosts Port staged a dramatic comeback from 2-1 down to edge past 10-man Suphanburi 3-2.
Pannaphanpong Pinkong gave Port an early lead but Guilherme Dellatorre scored twice to make it 2-1 for Suphanburi.
Suphanburi were reduced to 10 men after the break when Adul Lasoh picked up his second yellow, and Tana Chanabut and Sergio Suarez sealed the 3-2 victory for Port.