An injury-time strike by Marcel Essombe carried Ratchaburi into the quarter-finals of the Thai League Cup as they edged PTT Rayong yesterday.
It was a night in which Thai League 1 stalwarts struggled against the minnows from the second tier in the early games with Ratchaburi being the only side to win their last-16 round battle in regulation time.
Port were a heading for a victory when they conceded a late equaliser and then allowed Air Force to net an extra-time winner, bowing out of the competition.
Ratchaburi were in for an early shock when Thanakorn Niyomwan gave hosts Rayong the upper hand in the 11th minute.
However, Ratchaburi hit back and equalised through a Joel Sami header before Essombe netted the winner in the dying moments of the match.
Earlier, Nakhon Ratchasima FC came back from a goal down to pick up three points following a 2-1 victory over Thai Honda in their Thai League 1 battle on Saturday night.
The match was to be played last week but was postponed to Saturday night due to the water-logged pitch at Chalerm Phrakiat 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Min Buri.
Hosts Thai Honda came close to scoring in the 10th minute when Rafael Lima sent a shot wide, and Nakhon Ratchasima missed their opportunity a little later when Ekkachai Rithiphan's header was saved by Thai Honda goalkeeper Natchanon Jaithaworn.
The first goal came in the 23rd minute when Ronir de Suaza curled in a free-kick to put Thai Honda ahead.
Nakhon Ratchasima increased the tempo of their attacks and were rewarded in the first-half injury time when Dominic Adiyiah produced the equaliser for the visitors.
In the second half, Thai Honda wrested back the control but could not convert the opportunities they laboriously created.
A set-piece header by Victor Igbonefo off a corner kick wrapped up the match in Nakhon Ratchasima's favour.
Nakhon Ratchasima coach Milos Josic said: "We had been without a victory in our six previous outings. I am happy to get a win as we are trying to avoid relegation at the end of the season."
