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| TOT Stadium. Kasetsart's home from 2017 to 2019 |
Stadium Visit
I woke after a good night in Bangkok, early into my three-week cricketing tour, ready to visit some football stadiums. Because I planned while in the UK, I thought my task would be relatively easy. The sun was blazing, with even the locals commenting on how hot it was.
I needed a good lunch, as I had slept in through breakfast, so I wandered round to the Crossbar. Like many of my acquaintances, Brian shook his head when I told him my plans for the afternoon and evening.
Fortunately, my second driver spoke good English. He knew where the university was and how to get to the stadium once on campus. Sure enough, within ten minutes, I was smiling with a group behind the Main Stand before their away game later in the afternoon at Customs United.
Railings separated the ground from the rest of the campus. Anyone could watch when a match was on. Some students exercised on outdoor fitness equipment. I made my way through the entrance onto Thanon Ngam Wong Wan.
Football in the top two tiers had restarted after the mid-season international break, and I was keen to see as much of it as possible. This League Cup tie stood out for me, with the chance of an upset and being a sensible midweek distance from home.
Some clubs sold online tickets. They could be collected at certain 7-Eleven convenience stores. Kasertsart used this system, so I decided to give it a whirl, despite warnings from seasoned expats.
It’s fair to say my idea confused the young staff at the nearest store operating the system. They cheered when they sussed it out after about twenty minutes of trying to print the ticket.
Kick-off was 6pm, so I gave myself plenty of time, having been stuck in teatime traffic in the past. I was actually ahead of time on the 26 bus, so I did some sightseeing and photography at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat temple. I caught the light green BTS a few stops south to the Kasetsart University stop.
It took twenty minutes to walk through its impressive grounds to Insee Chantarasatit Stadium. I couldn't find the student union bar! For anyone wishing to point out the tongue-in-cheek comment. Alcohol and its advertising are prohibited inside Thai educational sites.
I used the on-site 7-Eleven for some pop and nibbles. Locals also came to watch what was a good evening cup tie, like several university clubs. I usually find that floodlights help the spectacle. Several eager folk were using the free exercise machines, and some kind of non-contact martial arts class was going on.
I’d got myself a good spot in the large stand built since my previous visit, facing across to the structure hosting the players, TV cameras and officials. I sat and couldn’t quite believe the updates as Port FC slid out to third-tier Muang Loei United on penalties.
The crowd were remarkably silent early on as we watched a cagey opening. Nigerian frontman Raphael Success looked good up front for the hosts, shooting narrowly over from a tight angle. Khon Kaen United's Brazilian midfielder Douglas Cobo showed signs of experience. The attendance grew during the first period as people arrived from work.
Tanapol Srithong gave United the lead with a cleverly constructed goal, converting a low cross, shortly before referee Winat Phophat blew for half-time. There was still time in between for Success to tee up Chakrit Wasprasertsuk, who skewed his shot badly wide.
I remained where I was at the break and spent it catching up on the other scores. Nearby, enthusiastic volleyball players entertained me. Muangthong United were about to lose to lower-division opposition Uthai Thani in their tie. I honestly couldn’t see Kasetsart beating their higher-division opponents, who just seemed that bit more streetwise.
I listened to the shambles back home in the UK with Prime Minister’s Questions while watching the game. The match grabbed my attention once the babbling and avoiding any questions had finished.
Kasetsart came out pushing for an equaliser. Success continued to cause the Khon Kaen defence problems as he went on a great run. Sub Apiwit Samurmuen came close at the near post. A rasping left-footed drive from Success beat United goalkeeper Chirawat Wangthaphan but came back off the inside of the post.
The same player then hit the same post with his right foot. He couldn't believe his bad luck as the game intensified, and he was substituted with thirteen minutes remaining. Surely that was the home side's chances over. What was head coach Panipol Kerdyam thinking?
He was vindicated a couple of minutes later when an earlier sub, Sukunchai Saengthopho, scored with a low shot across the outstretched Wangthaphan. What did I know anyway! No further scoring meant extra time. Saengthopho set up a fellow substitute, Simon Dia. Somehow, the Frenchman missed an open goal from the low cross.
Then Samuraimen hit the post with a shot while swinging his leg as he lay on the ground. Surely a goal was coming for the university-based club. The pressure continued as Kueanun Junumpai headed wide at the back post from a corner.
In the second period of extra time, Khon Kaen’s Yashir Islame played a majestic ball out wide. He headed the return cross wide. I could see how Dia had missed his earlier sitter. He had bags of skill but was cumbersome and awkward. He went on a rampaging run but eventually lost control as he was about to pull the trigger. It summed up his cameo.
Wangthaphan denied Junumpai as penalties seemed certain. However, a shot from Brazilian sub Ibson Melo went in past Thirawooth Sraunson and in off the far post. The visitors had found a winner in the second of three minutes of additional time.
The away fans celebrated with their team. Kasetsart had themselves to blame, wasting a plethora of chances. It was a very enjoyable game, which improved as it went on. I headed back through the campus to catch the number 26 back to Minburi.
I’d bought a couple of Minburi City shirts from their online store, so I was delighted when they scheduled this fixture. I could collect them, and it was also a handy venue travel-wise as the number 26 bus dropped me at the campus.
The transport was much lighter than I anticipated, meaning I arrived just before 5pm. A loony bus driver got me there at breakneck speed. When he slammed on his brakes, I nearly headed for the front window when I needed the middle doors.
I ideally wanted to find a bar to pass the time. Sadly, the area around the University still seemed affected by the pandemic. Nearby establishments showing on Google Maps didn't open for another hour.
Not to worry. I grabbed some finger food and drinks from the on-site 7-Eleven and found a seat in the main stand of Insee Chantarasatit Stadium. A pleasant young lady came across and gave me my two shirts. Obviously, I was the only foreigner to have made an order thus far.
Kick-off was late, no doubt, with players trying to make their way across Bangkok after work. Locals and students continued to jog around the track as the game got underway. Indeed, I had gained access to the stand through the same entrance as those exercising.
The scoreboard showed highlights of previous Kasetsart FC matches. This match featured the university's amateur team along with its academy arm.
The home side's players had no numbers on their shirts, so please excuse the lack of names. Minburi had a big squad, including several goalkeepers, as they looked to trim their roster before the Thailand Amateur League. It was drizzling, with overhead planes and birds providing background noise.
The game began slowly. The visitor’s number 23 showed skill before seeing his shot saved. In the fifteenth minute, Minburi’s custodian clattered a home player outside the box. The makeshift referee decided that a free kick was enough punishment. It appears that he had some sort of prophecy.
An unmarked Kasetsart player opened the scoring at the back post from the resulting kick. In an open game, City's number 6 seemed to be reading the game well. However, he often overplayed and then got caught out of position.
The teams gathered for drinks on the pitch at the interval. Kasetsart extended their lead further nine minutes after the restart. A university forward simply brushed aside a defender before firing home. Again, City's defence at sixes and sevens.
Twelve minutes from time, it became 5-0 when an excellent quick one-two skipped through the threadbare defence and finished. To add to Minburi’s woes, their number 11 rounded the keeper but hit the outside of the post with his effort on goal.
The better, more organised side had deservedly won. The City media team sent me an apology the following morning. There was no need, but it was a nice touch from a classy, well-run club.
Kasetsart University 1 KMUTNB 2
I was down in the capital for a week. My wife and I took a couple of the family grandmothers on their maiden flight to see Bangkok. A doubleheader was an excellent opportunity to leave them to it on Friday afternoon while I got my football fix.
The competition, which I attended a game in the previous season, is limited to university and educational establishments, with twenty-four sides in three groups of eight for round-robin games. The top two in each group, plus the two best-placed sides, reach the quarter-finals.
I took a van and then the Skytrain, changing at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat. I reflected on how the new Pink Line had improved Minburi. It was so much quicker and easier to get around. However, the walk through the campus was still the same distance.
Two free headers made it 1-1 before KMUTNB went on to win. The standard was reasonable, with several of those on show playing in T3 in the recently finished season. The winners, King Mongkul University of Technology North Bangkok, had to replace their injured keeper when they were 1-0 behind.
The replacement stopper had a fine game, making a string of excellent saves after the interval. By then, their number 23 had controlled the ball on the edge of the box and rifled it into the corner of the net with what proved to be the winning goal.
It turned out the game was a dead rubber. Kasetsart were thwarted time and again, while KMUTNB looked dangerous on the break. We were then granted a ten-minute intermission before the second game got underway.
RMUTT 0 Rajapruek University 6
This looked like a shocker, with nothing happening in the first twenty minutes, save some shocking attempts at goal from the more competent and fitter outfit. Rajapruek had lots more about them than their opponents, the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi.
Their shortened title, RMUTT, makes it sound as if Mick Lynch should have been their team boss. The side was certainly on strike for long periods as Rajapreuk went down the tunnel at the break with a two-goal lead. At this point, I had to head off for an appointment with Thai family and friends. There was no way I was going to miss it.
My pal filled me in later on what had happened back at Kasetsart. He said he thought the winning side would amass a cricket score, but they eased off in the closing stages.
I decided to head to Bang Khen and take the Red Line for a change, swapping to Pink at Lak Si and arriving early for my appointment despite walking the last twenty minutes. A very pleasant way to kill a few hours before becoming a tour organiser the following day to see the sights.
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