The game was switched to Muangthong United's Thunderdome Stadium at the request of Channel 11 so they could televise the game. Channel 11 then promptly changed their mind but by then it was too late for Raj to switch back, so the game went ahead at the Thunderdome.
About thirty or forty minutes before kick off, it start to pour with rain around the ground. Kick off was delayed by fifteen minutes but I didn't see any official check on the pitch (though I arrived late). I was under the impression Muangthong United's pitch had been replaced, I was wrong. The new turf has not yet been laid down and the old pitch remains in its damaged, riveted, torn up form. I walked in with my son at the wrong end and found myself mobbed by Loei fans. In England, my error may well have got me a beating. Today, it just got me a few handshakes and smiles.
The match began and it was a horror show. Rain was thrown up from the grass with every step from every player. The simplest challenge turned into a mammoth task as players began slipping and sliding everywhere. I was sure there would be a serious injury.
This chaos led to the early goal from Loei City who scored after two minutes. To their credit, Raj fans and players both recovered quickly. Raj went back on the attack and came close.
At this point, Raj's Cameroonian 'keeper Yen Emile became agitated with the Loei City number 12, Preuous Kuffour. The two began remonstrating. On more than one occasion Yen ran to the halfway line to argue with his Ghanaian opponent. Yen also seemed angry that the Loei keeper was wearing the same colours as his team mates. He seemed to find this obstruct his positioning. The Leoi goalie, to his credit, changed his shirt.
At around the thirty minute mark, Preuous Kuffour decided to start time wasting. He threw himself on the floor, called on the stretcher, got on the stretcher....and to the delight of the home fans, he promptly fell off.
Before long Rajpracha equalised from a deflection. Sorry everyone, I missed the scorer but I think it was no.34 . Both fans and players came to life.
The ongoing Camerooon - Ghana battle reached a head soon after the goal. Preuous Kuffour came through for a one on one with Yen Emile. Yen collected the ball and very quickly elbowed the Loei number 12 in the face. It wasn't quick enough though, and when Yen realised his assault had been seen by almost everyone in the ground, he threw himself down and played dead, too. Amazingly, the ref sent nobody off. The game continued in the atrocious conditions. About five minutes from the break, Raj scored again from a goal mouth scramble to send the players and fans in happy at half time.
The second half was a quieter affair, as the wet turf exhausted the players, but massive credit must be given to both sides for trying to play good football in such conditions. Rajpracha - in contrast to the last time I saw them - looked ready to die for the cause and fought for every last ball.
Raj hit the post, Loei came close several times, but the game finished 2 - 1 to Raj, prompting some home fans to set off fireworks.
Some fans seem sure that we are now guaranteed promotion on the head to head rule, even though Samutprakan won their away game at leaders Chaing Rai. As far as I can tell, we could still finish fourth if Loei win both of their remaining games. But promotion now seems well within our grasp nd based on today's show, the fans and players both deserve it. I just thank god nobody was seriously hurt. The FAT have a lot to answer for.
Photo credits as per the inscription. Posted on football.rajpracha.com
My son's first game.
Raj fans celebrate.
Loei fans who braved the long journey.
Thank you, Greg =D
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