Sharks end Muang Thong’s hopes for hat-trick of titles
Chonburi dashed SCG Muang Thong United’s dream for triple titles this season as they stunned the Kirins 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup on Wednesday night.
Muang Thong, who had been fancying winning the Thai League, League Cup and FA Cup titles this year, were not only without a battery of key players but their fans were also not allowed to enter Rajamangala National Stadium, which served as a neutral venue for the match.
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has barred Muang Thong from using their SCG stadium for the rest of the season, a decision that the club appealed yesterday.
The Kirins were penalised for failing to prevent a clash between their fans and Port supporters outside the SCG stadium after their recent League Cup semi-final.
Ratchaburi benefitted from another FAT ruling which gave them a walkover victory over Khon Kaen United in the FA Cup quarter-finals yesterday.
Khon Kaen have been slapped with a total ban for attacking and hurting match referee Sorapong Krainet in a second-tier Division One fixture which they lost 1-0 to Angthong on July 24.
In the other two quarter-finals on Wednesday night, Chainat FC defeated nine-man Suphanburi 3-2 and Sukhothai moved into the semi-finals for the first time by trouncing Port 4-0.
Muang Thong relied on their bench for their clash with Chonburi, with Tristan Do and Cleiton Silva being their most experienced players on the field.
Following a goalless first half, Chonburi moved into a higher gear after the break.
Datsakorn Thonglao fouled Rodrigo Vergilio in the penalty area and Leandro Assumpcao converted the spot-kick to put the Sharks 1-0 ahead in the 51st minute.
Assumpcao picked up his second four minutes later on a pass from Adul Lasoh and Vergilio put the match out of Muang Thong’s reach by heading home a lob from Nurul Sriyankem late in the match.
Chonburi coach Therdsak Chaiman said: “This was one of the best performances by the team this season, but we still have problems in front of the goal. We should have done better than this.”
Muang Thong coach Totchtawan Sripan said: “We had chances to score goals, but we did not take them. Many of our players are still tired and that affected our game as well.”
Meanwhile, Muang Thong director Ronnarit Suewaja has lodged an appeal with the FAT disciplinary committee to review its ban on the club’s fans, which will run until the first three games of the 2017 season.
Promising extra security measures, Ronnarit also appealed that the Kirins’ fans be allowed to watch their League Cup final against Buriram United as a packed stadium would generate a captivating atmosphere at the venue. Nice’s Mario Balotelli.