Despite statistical odds, Phuket United's latest opponents, Nonthaburi’s “Killer Bees” put up a good fight in their league match last Sunday night (June 7) at Saphan Hin Sports Centre.
The match, both side’s 12th of the 26-fixture Futsal Thailand Premier League (FTPL) 2015 season, was attended by just over a thousand fans.
Going into the match Phuket were in 5th place of the FTPL table with 19 points, while Nonthaburi were dwindling second from bottom with only four points to their credit.
Indeed, on paper it looked like Phuket would have no trouble brushing aside their opponents, and when the Andaman Pearl drew blood in the opening minute of play with a beautiful strike by captain Anuwat Phanoppha (no 15), a seamless victory seemed certain.
But the Killer Bees from Nonthaburi retaliated with lightning speed securing the equalizer only seconds later by Panathep Puipun (9).
The score remained locked at 1-1 for the next 9 minutes, until a play book combination on a Phuket counter attack ensured Thanakorn Penpakul (9) breach Nonthaburi’s wall to put his side up 2-1, a scoreline that would remain into the half.
Phuket came out of the locker rooms firing all guns, and in the opening minute of the half, Thanakorn Piyaprichayut (10) put his side up one more, 3-1.
Top Phuket scorer, “Action” Jackson Santos, who had been resting on the sidelines for much of the first half, was given some time on the pitch, and it didn’t take long for him to work his Brazilian magic, scoring back to back goals to put the Pearl up 5-1.
Nonthaburi wasn’t to give up without a final fight, though, and in the closing three minutes, employed a strategic power play, which yielded two goals through Ekthana Thammakit (18) and Sutthiporn Klutcharoen (19).
Realizing their defensive vulnerability, Phuket regrouped their zoning and had a few long shots on an open Nonthaburi goal, but to no avail, with the final whistle diminishing any hopes for an epic comeback.
The three points bumped Phuket up one spot into fourth place, while Nonthaburi fell to the pit of the table.
Phuket now have an away match this Saturday (June 13) against Mor Pak Khon Kaen, and the following Saturday will return to Phuket to host the same team.
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