Played in front of an energetic crowd of about 1,000 spectators, including a few dozen away supporters who’d bussed it down from Bangkok, the match was both sides’ eight of the 30-fixture Futsal Thailand Premier League 2014 season.
Despite a small ‘pot-hole’ that saw the Highways boys open the scoring in the 15th minute through a goal by Pongwan Kumrak – the first half’s only goal – it was be all smooth cruising for Phuket in the second half, with the Andaman Pearl going on to score five unanswere goals.
Thanakorn Penpakorn scored the equalizer just three minutes after the break, and a minute later, a brilliant missile from Brazilian Edson “Gugu” Silva put the Pearl on top.
Eight minutes after that Jackson Santos put Phuket up 3-1 and a minute after that, Gugu scored his second of the match.
Despite a strong push in the final minutes of the match by the Highways Department, who brought an attacking keeper on the pitch to employ a power play formation, it was Phuket to get the final hoorah when Thanakorn Piyaprichayut put the final nail in the coffin for a 5-1 triumph.
Now with 18 points from six wins and two losses, Phuket remain in 2nd place of the 16-team league, trailing undefeated and undrawn Chonburi by six points.
Trailing Phuket by only one point in third place is Pattaya Arena.
The Andaman Pearl now hit the road to take on 9th place Bangkok FC (11 points).
The match kicks off at 4pm and will be broadcast live on SMM TV.
Live stream link here