Kirins, Buriram win in contrasting fashion
Although defending Thai League 1 champions SCG Muang Thong United “did well only in the first 15 minutes” of their 3-0 victory over 10-man Ratchaburi, their coach Totchtawan Sripan gladly embraced the three points their lacklustre show generated on Sunday night.
The Kirins, playing at home, scored through Leandro Assumpcao (second minute), Heberty Fernandes (44th) and Tristan Do (80th) to stay in second place behind Buriram United, who edged Chiang Rai United 1-0.
Three-time former champions Buriram now have 62 points and enjoy a six-point lead over Muang Thong.
Totchtawan said: “It is great to have three points and it matters a lot more to us than many other things.
“If you ask about the players’ performance, I would say they did well only in the first 15 minutes.
“We didn’t look smooth until the opponents were reduced to 10 men [after Philip Roller was sent off in the 33rd minute].
“I think it’s because many of our key players were with the national team and they did not have enough time to train together at the club.”
Meanwhile, Buriram coach Bozidan Bandovic was happy with both his team’s performance and their 1-0 victory over Chiang Rai United, ensured by a 42ndminute goal by Jakson Coelho.
“The players did very well. We have a good team spirit and today we have moved another step closer to the title,” he said.
Hosts Navy FC earned one point after a 2-2 draw with Chonburi FC.
Chunna Numkanisorn gave Navy the lead in the 19th minute before Renan Marquez scored two goals for Chonburi. Navy got the equaliser through Rodrigo Vergilio in the 65th minute.
Port squandered a two-goal advantage at home to let Sukhothai walk away with a 3-3 draw and a point.
Kongnateechai Boonma put Sukhothai ahead in the first minute but Port responded with three goals in a row from Sergio Suarez, Nitipong Selanont and David Rochela.
Sukhothai scored twice in the last 10 minutes with John Baggio and Rodrigo Maranhao finding the net.
Hosts Thai Honda shocked Police Tero 2-1 to claim three points.