FC Phuket draw with Rayong FC, 1-1
PHUKET: FC Phuket drew on the road at Rayong FC last night, making success in this Saturday’s home match against undefeated Chainat FC crucial to their chances for promotion to Division 1 of the Thai League.
In last night’s game in the AIS Regional League “mini-league” playoffs, FC Phuket went in with one point following a road draw at Samut Prakarn. Rayong FC went into the match with three points after trouncing Loei City 4-0 in Loei.
The first half of last night’s match ended scoreless.
Rayong FC’s Camaroonian midfielder Tchobe Leukoue got the scoring underway in the 57th minute, but the Rayong fans didn’t have long to celebrate as FC Phuket teenage sensation Adisak Kraisorn equalized just two minutes later. Play ended with the teams even at 1-1.
FC Phuket head coach Arjan Songsamssub told the Gazette that the Southern Sea Kirin continue to improve.
“The second game with Rayong was better than the first game at Samut Prakarn, but the next game will be a real challenge as we are playing the group leader. We will do our best and hope to get a good result,” he said.
The Saturday night showdown, which kicks off at 6pm at Surakul stadium, is against high-scoring Chainat FC, who found the back of the net eight times while crushing their first two opponents.
The Southern Sea Kirin will return to Phuket tomorrow and immediately begin training for the match, easily the biggest in the fledgling club’s history.
In other playoff action, fellow Division 2 South qualifiers Trang FC’s chances for promotion don’t look good after the “Killer Sea Cows” went down 2-1 at home against Phichit FC. They now sit at the bottom of the Group B table without a point after two matches.
Other Group B results: Samut Prakan FC 2 – 2 Bangkok FC.
Group B table: 1. Chainat FC (6 points); 2. Rayong FC (4); 3. Samut Prakarn FC (2); 4. FC Phuket (2); 5. Bangkok FC (1); 6. Loei City (0).
Group A table: 1. Saraburi FC (4); 2. Chiang Mai FC (4); 3. Burirum FC (4); 4. Pichit FC (4); 5. Rangsit Univ (0); 6. Trang (0).
The top two finishers in each group will be promoted to Division 1.
Upcoming fixtures:
OCTOBER 30: Chainat FC @ FC Phuket, 6pm
NOVEMBER 6: @ Bangkok FC, 4pm
NOVEMBER 13: Loei City @ FC Phuket, 6pm
NOVEMBER 21: @ Loei City, 4pm
NOVEMBER 27: Bangkok FC @ FC Phuket, 6pm
DECEMBER 4: @ Chainat FC, 4pm
DECEMBER 12: Rayong FC @ FC Phuket, 4pm
DECEMBER 19: Samut Prakarn FC @ FC Phuket, 4pm
— Sitthipong Nongkaew
