Sunday 21st April 2024 - 16:00pm Thailand / 09:00am GMT - TSP
On a day when Dome confirmed themselves as the league champions Futera United put themselves firmly back in the race for the runner up spot with a resounding 6-0 win over BSL United at the KMITL Stadium.
Futera United reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation, with Golf and Sanook as the front two, as they kicked off in an oppressive 40 degree pitch side temperature. Futera should have taken the lead inside ten minutes when the revitalised Sin, now playing as a winger, produced a pinpoint cross onto the head of Sanook, but the towering striker somehow headed wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy. Sanook quickly made amends, when after BSL failed to clear their lines from a Taku inswinging free kick, he fired home from the edge of the six yard box to give Futera a deserved lead.
The home side doubled their lead in the 27th minute when the tireless Sanook won the ball back and his deep cross found Sin at the back post, whose neat pull pack fell invitingly at the feet of Taku who somehow completely missed his kick. The BSL defenders, in a panic, failed to clear the ball and Taku pounced to smash the ball into the roof of the net to make the score 2-0. Futera were now in total control and should have added to their tally. An excellent run from Phu saw him rattle the crossbar with a thunderous left foot strike and Sanook went agonisingly close after excellent link up play with Golf ended with his calm side foot effort missing the bottom corner by inches. The half time whistle blew with Futera holding a 2-0 lead.
Futera took less than five minutes to extend their lead in the second half. The impressive Bas swept the ball out to Phu on the left wing and his accurate cross was met by Golf’s stooping header that hit the underside of the bar. Sanook was first to react to the rebound firing home from close range for his second of the game. In the 52nd minute a fine move involving Golf and Phu presented Sanook with the opportunity to complete his hat trick but blazed over the bar from six yards out.
With Futera totally dominant, a somewhat demoralised BSL were struggling to keep the home side at bay and went further behind when another excellent move down the left flank resulted with Sin firing home to make the score 4-0. An exquisite through ball from Phu allowed Beem to score his first goal of the season before Nuang wrapped things up with a neat finish from Aek’s slide rule pass to make the final score 6-0 to Futera.
Futera responded well to the disappointment of the Dome defeat and put in a great performance in extremely trying conditions. Sin looks much more comfortable as a traditional winger and produced some excellent crosses. Sanook and Golf had some bright moments linking up well but the jury is still out as to whether either are the answer to our striking dilemma. Bas continues to go from strength to strength cementing his position as a first eleven starter. Futera face Look Isan in their last fixture needing a victory to secure the runners up spot, which would be an incredible feat in their first season in the Thailand Semi Pro League.