Phuket FC outgunned as Yokohama level pre-season series

PHUKET: Yokohama FC eventually outclassed Phuket FC to run out 2-0 winners at Surakul Stadium on Sunday, claiming a respectable 3-3 on aggregate against the islanders over two friendlies played in the past week.

The home side, who have officially taken on the nickname “The Ronins”, held out the visiting J-League squad for the first half, but the superior skills of the visitors saw them slot two goals in the final 45 minutes.

“Yokohama were good at pressing, leaving us little space for moving the ball,” said Phuket FC’s Songyod “Coach Daeng” Klinseesuk.

“But our players were patient and moved forward when the opportunity was there.”

Retaining possession was key, he added, noting a lesson learned from the first friendly last Thursday.

“After first match, we reviewed what we did well, and where our weaknesses were,” Coach Daeng said. “What we noticed was how good they were at pressing and we came up with strategies to try our best to overcome that.”

The loss to Yokohama on Sunday was a turnabout after last Thursday’s friendly, which Phuket FC won convincingly 3-1. The match was also played at Surakul.

The victory came courtesy of a hat-trick by Phuket FC’s new Cameroon signing, Berlin Ndebe-Nlome, sporting his favorite jersey number, 32.

Berlin comes to Phuket after serving Sriracha FC and Chonburi FC, which he joined after starting his international football career in the UK with clubs Portsmouth, Crawley and a later stint with Swindon FC, which he joined after signings with Belgian top side KVC Westerlro and Portugal’s P. Ferreira.

The touring Yokohama squad yesterday returned to Japan, where they will begin their J-League Division 1 season with a match against Kawasaki Frontale on March 7.

Coach Daeng rated the international friendlies as “a good experience” for the Phuket squad.

“It was good for us in the way that every player had to react to a stronger opposing side and had to work as part of the team to try to overcome them,” he said.

“This helps to build players’ confidence and makes us a stronger team.”

— Voratuss Intasee