Record win has Islanders seeing double

PHUKET: Chantaburi may have opened the scoring against Phuket FC tonight (June 24), but that was about as good as their visit to Surakul Stadium got.

Sunday 24 June 2012, 11:46PM

Because as well as now being firmly placed at the bottom of the Thai Division 1 table, the Hares of Chantaburi came up against a resurgent Phuket outfit who claimed their first back-to-back wins since September last year in emphatic style.

Indeed, the final 8-1 scoreline – the biggest win in the club’s Division 1 history – could have been much greater, had The Islanders not wasted several basic opportunities.

After slipping to a 0-1 deficit early in the first half, Phuket responded quickly through Nene Bi, who latched on to a mistake from Chantaburi goalkeeper Watchara Masuk – his first of many in the match – to belt home a loose ball in front of open goal and level the account.

Phuket goalkeeper Alonso da Silva was rested for the game to allow Ibrahim Kanouté to play up front, and the tactic proved genius, as the towering Ivorian forward proceeded to turn the game on its head.

As the Islanders dominated possession and stomped their attacking authority over Chantaburi, Kanouté’s first major involvement in the game saw him send in a low cross from the right wing, and after controlling the ball, Watcharapong Chan-ngam sent in a curling right foot shot to sent the home side up 2-1.

On 44 minutes, Kanouté entered his own name onto the scorer’s sheet, finding a route through heavy traffic in the box to set The Islanders up with a vital two goal lead.

Clearly not content with the already imposing scoreline, just 30 seconds later Kanouté was at it again, driving home his second and Phuket’s fourth for a commanding half time lead.

He had the chance to claim his hat-trick in the opening minute of the second half when Phuket FC were awarded a penalty, though he sent it high.

His miss was redeemed five minutes later though as he set up Tawin Boonsombat to send The Islanders 5-1 up.

As the second half went on, the home side looked like they were having fun for the first time all season – Kanoute was even trying scissor kicks, to no avail.

A dejected Chantaburi, meanwhile, offered little resistance, lacking intensity and completely failing to contain the rampaging Phuket forwards.

When Yeon Seung-Won scored from an almost impossible angle for Phuket, the game was bordering on farce as the scoreboard read 6-1.

But there was more to come; Watcharakorn Klaitin netted two more before the full time whistle to record one of the more memorable victories in Phuket football history.

FINAL SCORE:

Phuket FC   8-1   Chantaburi FC