True Bangkok United’s hopes of putting up a challenge for this year’s Thai League 1 title suffered another telling blow last night when they lost 2-1 at Chainat.
Chainat were handed three points when Bangkok United defender Everton Goncalves conceded an own goal soon after the break, giving the home team a 2-0 advantage. Chainat’s first goal was scored by Ricado Santos in the 37th minute.
The capital side did try to fight back but their efforts yielded only goal, netted by Teerathep Winothai 15 minutes before the final whistle.
Brazilian striker William Henrique earned a point for hosts Chiang Rai United with a secondhalf equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Samut Prakarn City last night.
The draw was good enough to help the Beetles tie defending champions Buriram United in second place with 13 points.
Ibson de Melo put Samut Prakarn City ahead in the 17th minute and it took the home side more than half an hour to draw level with the visitors.
Ratchaburi eased some pressure on their new coach, former Italy star Marco Simone, when they defeated PTT Rayong 3-1 in an away game.
Ratchaburi had suffered two straight losses before going into last night’s match and a brace by Steeven Langil sealed three points for the visitors.
Yannick Boli was tripped inside the box by Rayong goalkeeper Peerapong Ruenin and the Ratchaburi striker himself converted the ensuing penalty early in the match.
Langil picked up his first goal on the stroke of 20 minutes and had another five minutes into the second half.
Ariel Rodriguez netted the only goal for the home team during the final injury time.
Meanwhile, Buriram United coach Bozidar Bandovic expressed his dismay on Friday night as the Thunder Castle remained winless in their last three home games.
The defending league champions finished tied 1-1 with top-flight newcomers Trat at their home ground, thanks to a sharp tap-in by Supachai Jaided after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Supachai cancelled out the edge Trat had gained in the 59th minute when Lonsana Doumbouya pounced on a loose ball in the middle and squeezed past a couple of Buriram defenders for an easy goal.
Bandovic was especially critical of his team’s display in the first half.
“I am really disappointed,” said the Buriram coach.
“We were pretty bad in the first half. We couldn’t control the game and created only a couple of chances.
“We improved in the second half and but we weren’t good enough to win the match.
“It is important for us to pick up three points from games like these. We need to learn from our mistakes in this match.”
Tonight, PT Prachuap will be looking forward to bounce back from the humiliating 5-0 hammering they sustained at the hands of league leaders Port before the Songkran break two weeks ago.
Prachuap, coached by former Thailand midfielder Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul, host Sukhothai for their eighth league game of the season.
In t he other t wo matches tonight, bottom-placed Suphanburi host Nakhon Ratchasima and Chonburi take on Chiangmai.
