As a result of the victory, the Andaman Pearl were elevated into 4th place with 43 points after 25 of 26 league matches, set to finish the season on the road next Sunday, September 21 against Surat Thani FC.
Going into last night’s match, Phuket were in 6th place, their opponents in 12th of Thailand’s elite 14-club, five-a-side league.
It took the home team several minutes to warm up their attack but the ice was finally broken on 8 minutes through Thanakorn Penpakul, with the lead doubling two minutes later through a long range strike by Kirati Tosasut. Chonlathon Niemphai converted a beautiful cross from Jackson Santos to put their side up 3-0 on 14 minutes.
The visitors found themselves in foul trouble, and Anuwat Pannopha scored from the spot just before the break.
Two minutes into the second half, the visitors counter measures finally paid off through a rapid run culminated by Ulit Rotsanakarn, but Phuket’s Kirati scored his double a minute later to keep the margin at 4 goals.
Samut Prakarn’s Wachar Lepraijit narrowed the margin once again with a goal on the 28th minute, but that margin was finally widened with Thanakorn’s double on 35 minutes.
The final goal was scored by Samut Prakarn’s Teerapong Junsakulwiboo two minutes before the final whistle.
With still-undefeated Chonburi Blue Wave having long locked in their 8th FTPL championship, Bangkok has secured the league’s runner-up spot with 49 points, safe from any contenders seizing the prestige going into the final week of play.
But 3rd place glory is still up for grabs, with the likes of Phuket, Thai Port, Siam Navy and Samut Sakhon all having a shot.
With 42 points, Thai Port’s odds for bronze look promising, as they still have an extra game in hand before the finale next weekend, first set to play Si Saket on September 16.
But then again, they’ll have to take on Chonburi in Chonburi in their final matchup.
If Phuket can dominate in their match, and results of other matches go our way, a 3rd place finish is still within grasp.
Following are all fixtures of the final week of the 2015 FTPL
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Chonburi vs Thai Port
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Samut Prakarn vs Siam Navy (40 points +12GD)
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Suratthani vs Phuket Utd
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Khon Kaen vs CAT FC
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Nonthaburi vs Ayutthaya City
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Si Saket vs Samut Sakhon (45 points, +16GD)
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Nakhon Ratchasima vs Bangkok FC