Success for Kirins in opener
Cleiton strike sees Muang Thong through at Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai impress in first game
A first-half strike by Cleiton Silva proved enough to give SCG Muang Thong United a winning start to the 2016 Thai League season as they held on to edge Nakhon Ratchasima 1-0 yesterday.
While last year’s runners-up Muang Thong will be feeling relieved after their victory on the opening day of the new campaign, all eyes today will be on defending champions Buriram United, who were recently thrashed twice in the AFC Champions League.
Buriram have been handed a tough opener as they travel to Bangkok United.
Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob has said his team will retain the title and the other teams will be competing for the runners-up spot.
He said Bangkok United are favourites to finish the season behind Buriram because they have brought in some good players such as former Thailand forward Teerathep Winothai and Macedonian midfielder Mario Gjurovski, who joins the capital side from Muang Thong.
Three-time former Thai League champions Muang Thong, who are sparing no effort to dethrone Buriram this year, started the match with five Thailand internationals from BEC Tero Sasana — Chanathip Songkrasin, Tanaboon Ketsarat, Peerapat Notechaiya, Tristan Do and Adisak Kraisorn — taking the field.
Muang Thong started off well and came close when Adisak missed the target by a whisker early in the match.
After Cleiton had baulked on a good opportunity, hosts Nakhon Ratchasima forced Muang Thong goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan into action to save a blistering shot from Malek Yawahab.
The goal for the visitors came in the 37th minute following a brilliant solo effort by Brazilian Clieton and the Kirins took the lead into the breather.
As expected, Nakhon Ratchasima went all out on the attack and could have levelled but Noah Chivuta shot wide on one occasion and Kawin punched away a shot by Bjorn Lindermann on another.
Muang Thong had their chances and Adisak saw his drive cleared by Nakhon Ratchasima goalkeeper Kampol Pathomattakul.
During injury time, Nakhon Ratchasima’s last opportunity to grab a point from their home game was wasted by Lindermann, who sent the ball over the bar to let Muang Thong walk away with a 1-0 win in their first league match under coach Totchtawan Sripan.
At Si Sa Ket Stadium, the hosts picked up three points by beating newly promoted Sukhothai 2-0.
Puwadon Suvannachart netted the first goal in the 20th minute and during injury time Ivan Brozovic converted a penalty for Si Sa Ket.
At United Stadium, Chiang Rai United started the new season with an impressive performance as they beat visiting Suphanburi 1-0.
Brazilian Dennis Murillo scored the winning goal in the 20th minute for Chiang Rai United.
At Navy Sattahip Stadium, Navy could only manage to claim one point after a goalless draw 0-0 with Chainat.
In yesterday’s late match, BEC Tero Sasana suffered a 2-1 home loss to Army United.