At 8:00 PM on August 19th, Port FC will host Chiangrai United at PAT Stadium in the second round of the Thai League.
In last week’s Thai League opening match, Port FC travelled to beat newly-promoted Rayong FC 3-1. For most of the game, the team trailed by one goal. However, the tide turned in the final stages of the second half when young national team player Teerasil came on as a substitute. The striker, who scored 15 goals in just 22 league appearances last season, scored twice in just four minutes. The assists came from national team wing players Bodin and Pakorn.
In last season’s Thai League, Port FC finished third with 16 wins, 9 draws, and 5 losses, securing a spot in the Asian Champions League second tier. This is an acceptable result for local coach Ronsan, who has been in charge for less than a year. However, after the end of last season, Port FC lost their most important attacker – 34-year-old Brazilian foreign player Tardeli (15 goals and 9 assists). Currently, Port FC is using former Buriram foreign player Tunbia and former Bangkok United star striker Wilen Mota (20 goals and 6 assists) as replacements, but the two haven’t clicked in the opening match.
In terms of the squad, Port FC’s other Brazilian foreign striker Amorim and new midfielder Billardon are likely to miss this round, as neither player was included in the starting lineup for the first round. However, Port FC coach Ronsan’s signing from Police Tero, Isaac Honey, came on as a substitute in the first round. The 31-year-old Ghanaian centre-back has a good set-piece offensive ability and is a value-for-money foreign player in the Thai League.
Chiangrai United, who are the visitors, only managed 8 wins, 10 draws, and 12 losses in the Thai League last season, finishing 10th, only four points ahead of the relegation zone. The team’s main problem lies in their lack of offensive firepower (averaging just over one goal per game). However, in the first round of this season, Chiangrai United won 2-0 at home against mid-table Khon Kaen United thanks to goals from two young players, Chinnawat and Thanawat. New Spanish coach Javier Moro’s youth storm tactics seem to be showing their claws.
In the transfer window during the off-season, Chiangrai United signed Brazilian foreign player Carlos Yuri, Chinese striker Guo Tianyu, and Thai-Swiss mixed-race attacker Chichaino, all very young attacking players. This is an attempt to build a vibrant young team despite limited financial resources. However, this week, Chiangrai United’s U23 team officially announced their withdrawal from the Electricity Authority-sponsored Thai U23 League, citing excessive club expenditure and inability to cover the U23 team’s travel expenses.
In terms of the squad, Chiangrai United is likely to include Guo Tianyu in the matchday squad for this game. The player’s registration process has been completed and he has been present at the pre-match training session against Port FC. However, Chiangrai United’s two South Korean foreign players, Lee Jeong-min and Lee Ki-jun, may not feature in this game, while new signing Brazilian defensive midfielder Ralph played the full 90 minutes in the first round and performed well.
In their previous 20 encounters, Port FC have a slight advantage with 8 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses. In this league fixture, Chinese fans will be focusing on Chiangrai United’s forward Guo Tianyu, who wears the No. 18 shirt. Will this hopeful star who has overcome numerous challenges to play abroad make a contribution for his new club? Let’s wait and see!
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