Thai Port 1-3 Sriracha, Thai Premier League

Thai Port play at the 12,000 capacity PAT stadium in the Khlong Toei area of Bangkok. This is the poorest district of Bangkok and the fans have a reputation similar to Millwall, no problem with foreigners though. I got to the stadium via the MRT metro system which stopped at Queen Sirikit station. It is a ten minute walk to the ground from there ( use exit 1 to Khlong Toei market ), but I took a motorcycle taxi from outside the station.


Thai Port are known as a cup side and on February 4th they play PEA Buriram (League Champions) in the League Cup Final. They are about halfway in the league but are on a run of four straight wins. Sriracha are struggling at the bottom and even if they won today the likelyhood is they will be relegated. The visitors got off to a positive start when their number 9 raced free from just inside his own half only for the Thai Port keeper to pull off a great save when a low shot along the ground was tipped around the post. The Thai Port defence didn't learn from this and were caught out when the centre forward played in Brazillian striker Aron da Silva with a flicked header. Da Silva did better than his team mate with his low shot. The Brazilian's effort beat the keeper to put Sriracha one goal to the good. Minutes later Da Silva was unmarked and onside in the area to head the visitors two nil up before halftime.


I found out at halftime the Thai Port players hadn't been paid for a month and had refused to play this game until some money came their way. The home side were just as abject in the second half and Sriracha went three goals up soon after the interval. The ball looked like it was going out for a goalkick but somehow a forward managed to keep the ball in and his back heel found a teammate who played the ball across the area for Da Silva to lash the ball in for his hat trick. The home side got a consolation goal near full time when from a corner the Sriracha keeper dropped the ball and Phudit Niamkong had a simple tap in. FT 1-3