Geylang United's qualification hopes hit after 0-1 loss to Thai Port FC in AFC Cup football

Story by Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports

Jalan Besar Stadium, Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Reigning Singapore Cup champions Geylang United's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the AFC Cup were hit after a 0-1 loss to 2009 Thailand FA Cup winners Thai Port FC.

In a first-half well dominated by the Thais, Geylang United's goalscoring opportunities were limited to few and far between as they struggled to retain possession of the ball and provide enough support for lone striker Peter Tomko.

On the other hand, the Thais impressed with their passing movement in their midfield and constantly whipped in dangerous crosses into the box for their two strikers, Sompong Soleb and former Geylang player Pitipong Kudilok.

The first real opportunity was created on 12 minutes. A great crossfield pass from midfielder Pongpipat Kamnuan picked out Sompong in the box. Sompong found himself in space after juggling the ball past two Geylang defenders, but elected to pass back to Pitipong who was immediately closed down by the Geylang defence.

One minute later, a great through ball down the middle from Worawut Wangsawat nearly found Sompong in the box, but Geylang centre-back Walid Lounis came rushing back and bravely headed the ball clear.

Thai Port continued to pile on the pressure and nearly took the lead on 16 minutes. A shot from full back Rangsan Iamwiroj nearly creeped into Geylang goalie Siddiq Durimi's near post before the latter managed to tip it wide for a corner.

The resulting corner from the right saw Thai Port captain Itthiphol Nonsiri rose the highest to head the ball goalwards but his effort was well tipped over the bar by Siddiq.

Geylang United slowly began to settle into the game and created their first opportunity on 20 minutes. Slovakian forward Peter Tomko sent full back Salim Abdul Rahim down the left flank with a pass from midfield. Salim returned the favour by crossing low into the box for Tomko but the latter's effort was deflected away from goal from a Thai Port defender.

Tomko had another opportunity 15 minutes later but his effort from outside the box was easily saved by Thai Port custodian Pattarakorn Tanganurat.

Thai Port had another opportunity to score midway through the first half when Worawut Wangsawat ran down the left flank and cut inside to produce a cross for Pitipong. However the latter wasted the opportunity by heading wide of the right-hand post.

At half-time, the Thai Port coach decided to tinker with his tactics by doing a bold double substitution with left winger Yai Ninwong (TP #5) and striker Isarapong Lilakorn (TP #13) coming on for Jakkrit Bunkham and Pitipong Kudilok respectively.

The tactical switch seemed to work for the Thais as the substitutes provided extra impetus into the Thai Port attack.

On 54 minutes, full back Rangsan Iamwiroj teased Salim Abdul Rahim on the flanks before crossing into the box for Yai Ninwong but the substitute's header went just wide of the left-hand post

Then three minutes later, Pongpipat Kamnuan's freekick attempt just outside the box landed on the roof of the net.

The deadlock was finally broken on 58 minutes. A great ball down the left flank saw Yai Ninwong cut inside two defenders before pulling it back for midfielder Kiatcharoen Ruangpan to thump a first-time shot into the top left corner of the goal, leaving Siddiq with no chance at all.

That goal finally stung Geylang into action as they began to get their game together and show more urgency in their play as they created numerous goalscoring opportunities for the last half-hour of the match.

On 62 minutes, Geylang captain Miroslak Latiak who went on a surging run down the middle after Walid Lounis worked the ball out of the defence. However he failed to get past the last Thai Port defender to get his shot away.

13 minutes later, substitute Shah Hirul (GU #15)'s long ball from midfield set up Tomko who did well to surge his well into the box and got a fierce shot in before Itthiphol Nonsiri closed him down superbly and deny the effort.

On 81 minutes, substitute Hafiz Rahim (GU #17) whipped in a cross from the right that picked out Latiak who rose superbly above Rangsan Iamwiroj to head the ball but his effort went just wide of the right-hand post.

Despite all their pressure, they could not break down the resolute Thai Port defence and ended the match with only 10 men after centre-back Jonathan Xu was dismissed for a second yellow card after he brought down Sompong Soleb just outside the box.

That killed off all hopes of a Geylang comeback as Thai Port held out for a crucial 1-0 away victory.

"At this level, when you make slight mistakes, you will get punished and that is what happened," commented a disappointed Mike Wong at the post-match press conference.

"Due to a lot of injuries, I had to put in three Under-21 boys to get an organised team to compete with Thai Port today," he added.

"After we went 0-1 down, the team realised they had to push up further," he elaborated when quizzed about why his team only threatened to score after Thai Port scored. "Thai Port passed the ball well and exploited the space very well too so I had to push my defence line up higher."

However he remained optimistic about his team's quest for qualification for the last 16.

"Obviously after losing this game, it does not depend on us anymore (to achieve qualification). However I will not say we're out yet as it could depend on the Da Nang vs Thai Port game next week which could be hard for Thai Port," he said.

Meanwhile Thai Port coach Wattana Phochanakong was quizzed on adopting such an adventurous approach in an away game.

"For the football we play at Thai Port FC, we not only play to win, but we also try to play in a style that people can enjoy an attacking game," he said in response.

"The two substitutions certainly changed the game for us. I put them on to open up the wings to support the strikers and I felt they followed their instructions very well," he commented on his double substitution at half-time.

He also felt his team learnt from their previous encounter against each other when his team lead 2-0 early in the first half before Geylang came back to draw 2-2 back in Thailand.

"After the last game, we emphasised on the team's concentration for the full 90 minutes. Once we scored, we gave nothing away," he said.

In the other group M match, Vietnamese champions SHB Da Nang achieved a hard-fought 2-1 win in Hong Kong against Wofoo Tai Po which ensured they earned maximum points from all four games played so far and secured their place in the last 16 with two games left to play.

Meanwhile Thai Port cemented their second position in Group H with seven points from four matches to give them a five-point gap over Geylang United who are in third with two points. Wofoo Tai Po are last in the table with one point.

Geylang United next take on bottom-of-the-table Wofoo Tai Po in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20th in a must-win clash if they want to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Geylang United lineup (5-4-1)
Siddiq Durimi (#20, GK); Yasir Hanapi (#16), Rastislak Belicak (#3), Jonathan Xu (#13), Walid Lounis (#5), Salim Abdul Rahim (#2); Itimi Dickson (#14), Syed Fadhil (#18), Miroslav Latiak (#9, captain), Syed Thaha (#11); Peter Tomko (#10)

Thai Port FC lineup (4-4-2)
Pattarakorn Tanganurat (#1 GK); Rangsan Iamwiroj (#6), Itthiphol Nonsiri (#28, captain), Mario Cesar Da Silva (#22), Pongpipat Kamnuan (#17); Jirawat Makkharom (#11), Worawut Wangsawat (#4), Jakkrit Bunkham (#8), Kiatcharoen Ruangpan (#27); Pitipong Kudilok (#9), Sompong Soleb (#24)

To see more photos from the game, go to the next page