Thursday 4th August 2022 - 16:00 Thailand / 10:00am BST / 09:00am GMT
With the departure of Hanley and Fofana and a recent spate of injuries the management team concluded that the squad needed freshening up, so a friendly match against BCC FC was arranged to give the NFT holders the chance to vote on two trialists. Kao an exciting, pacy forward and Basil a defensive central midfielder would play against an excellent BCC FC side that included a number of players who had represented Thailand at youth level.
The venue for this match was the impressive Bangkok Glass training facility and Kao kicked off on an immaculate surface. Futera controlled the opening stages against their young opponents, and a neat one two between Gael and Kao saw the ball fall to Phu who scuffed his shot straight into the BCC keeper's hands. In the 18th minute with Futera continuing to press forward they were caught by a stunning counter attack when the BCC number 7 won the ball in his own half and set off beating three players before deftly chipping Film to open the scoring. Minutes later Futera were on equal terms when a fine cross from Bank found Phu in the box who sidestepped the BCC defence before rifling into the left corner. The game continued with Futera looking to go forward, with BCC always a threat on the counter. John went close with a rasping drive that was brilliantly saved by the BCC keeper, who looked an incredible player. In the final minute of the first third, Futera’s intense high press saw them win the ball back and Jew played the ball into Kao on the edge of the box who turned his marker and drove a powerful shot into the bottom corner to give Futera a deserved 2-1 lead.
The second third began with BCC on the front foot, but it was Futera who fashioned the first chance when a swift counter attack saw the tireless Oat, on as substitute for Gael, run 60 yards before crossing to Bank whose shot was saved by the excellent BCC keeper. Rather fortuitously, Futera extended their lead when Jew’s 25 yard strike deflected off the BCC defender and looped over the hapless keeper to make the score 3-1. In the 56th minute, another lung bursting run from Oat saw him fire in a low cross that landed at the feet of Boss one yard from goal and he incredibly managed to scoop the ball over the bar for what will surely go down as the miss of the season. After this let off, BCC stormed back and reduced the deficit with a bending free kick that beat the Futera defensive wall and nestled in the bottom corner. The equaliser followed minutes later when Futera’s high line was caught out and a neat through ball allowed the BCC striker to calmly round the keeper and make the score, in a highly entertaining game 3-3.
The final third began, below ominous black clouds, with BCC firmly in the ascendancy forcing four consecutive corners. Futera had changed formation with three central defenders and two wingers and lacked cohesion in the opening stages. Futera’s midfield gradually managed to gain control of the game and in the 69th minute Save’s neat chipped through ball found Phu who raced into the box and crossed before being crudely taken out by the BCC centre back, who was lucky to escape a booking. A penalty was given and John duly dispatched to once again give Futera the lead. With both teams tiring the game became more open and chances were spurned at both ends. A delightful cross field ball from Nu in the closing stages was neatly played into the path of Kao, by the impressive Oat, and his fierce drive was kept out by the keeper but Stefan followed up to smash home to make the final score 5-3 to Futera.
Once again Futera United put in an incredible performance against a very talented, well drilled team. The two trialists impressed with Kao looking sharp up front and Basil putting in a disciplined performance in the defensive midfield role. Owen had a great game and showed what a good player he really is and Oat with his boundless energy was a constant threat down the right flank. We need to carry this level of intensity and desire into our next BPL fixture against Siwilai, who managed to thwart our goal threat in the previous match.