It was the visitors who ran in front with two opening goals on 5 and 6 minutes by Apiwat Chamcharoen, capitalizing on regrettable mistakes by Phuket in their own territory.
A minute later, the Pearl were back in contention when Edson “Gugu” Silva (number 4) stole the ball in Phuket’s half and led a fierce counter attack straight straight down the middle of the pitch, driving through three Chonburi defenders, before narrowly beating the keeper on the left post.
The crowd went wild and it was clearly "game on" from there on.
Play went back and forth for the rest of the 1st half but the score would remain 1-2 at half time, in favour of the visitors.
Phuket came out of the locker room with all guns blazing in the second half, with fans on their toes after several close shots on the left flanks by Thanakorn Penpakul (9) and Kittipong Sonsuwan (17).
But it was a brilliant Brazilian (Braziliant) combination that would yield the equalizer four minutes into the half, when defender Gugu, from mid-court, found Jackson Santos (5) posted perfectly near the goal, to see through Gugu’s shot into the back of the net.
Moments later, the defending Thai champions scored in similar fashion when national hero, Kritsada Wongkaeo (7) from mid-pitch, sent the ball flying into the Phuket box, where his pivot, Jirawat Sonwichien, had little difficulty finishing the job.
Chonburi had many chances to seal the game with fantastic footwork, combinations and solid defending from their main stars Suppawut Theunklang, Kritsada Wongkaeo and Brazilian import Xapa Danda.
But, having never not lost to Chonburi in its three seasons in the kingdom’s elite 5-a-side league, Phuket were ever determined to make history.
Things were looking dreary, however, when the home team’s star keeper (and main keeper for the Thailand national squad who won the 2014 Asean championship) Chalermsi Puangsi carried off on a stretcher after a rough challenge that had many fans worried.
At the final five-minute mark, Phuket employed a power play, and Gugu was fielded as the fifth attacker. The strategy paid off quickly as clever cross-passing by Phuket effectively stretched out the Chonburi defense, allowing Thanakorn Penpakul (9) to sneak into the box unguarded, and perfectly positioned at the end of a slick pass by Gugu to tap in the equalizer and ignite the home crowd into a new frenzy.
Luckily Calermsi’s injury wasn’t too serious, and he was put back in the net in the final three minutes to defend against Chonburi’s final fronts.
As the final whistle blew, Phuket fans, players and staff celebrated as if they’d just won the World Cup, even though it was only a 3-3 draw.
See video clip of full match here.
The point, however, ensures that the Andaman Pearl remain in first place of the 14-team FTPL with seven points after three matches.
It’s not going to be easy defending that prestige however, as Phuket next hit the capital to take on traditional Thai footy powerhouse Thai Port FC (currently in 7th place with four points) on April 25, before returning home to host another traditionally strong side, Siam Navy, on May 3.
Meanwhile, last night, the island’s pro 11-a-side club, Phuket FC lost their cup match away to Lampang FC, 2-0
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