Nonthaburi FC: chang rai united

Showing posts with label chang rai united. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Raj fans in action

This clip features fans of Raj and CRU cheering Raj against Songkhla. It also features an interview (in Thai) with two of the fan club organisers who are both very friendly people and great fans. Incidentally this is the game Raj lost 1-3 and ended with the mother of all rainstorms.

Thursday, 24 June 2010

Raj 1 Chiang Rai United 1 - report

Goalscorer - Sarawaut Sintupun

Credit: football.rajpracha.com

What a difference four days can make! Rajpracha fought back to earn a well-deserved one-all draw with northerners Chiang Rai United in front of a small crowd that included a large proportion of away fans who made the twelve hour or more journey from Chiang Rai, as well as Chiang Rai natives now based in and around Bangkok.

But the small number of home fans - remember this was an early kick off on a day that England were playing World Cup football on TV - spurred on a much improved Rajpracha team to a bright start.

It seems that many of the problems I discussed in my last blog were recognised by the management. The two outfield African players - Walumpah and Thierry Touoyem - were returned to defence and attack respectively, adding desperately needed muscle to the outfield. The whole team looked determined and ready to receive the ball and make something happen at any time. Perhaps the most remarkable change was in Nirun Phuntong, who looked back to his nutmegging, feinting, pacing best instead of just being a lightweight midfielder getting nudged off the ball every time. On one occasion he was played into trouble in his own box and responded by beating two men and playing a safe square ball to clear the danger.Last Saturday, it would have been a sure opening for the opposition.

But for all the drive, Raj still lacked presence in the Chiang Rai penalty area. Around the twenty minute mark, CR scored the opening goal. I missed it so I can't say what happened. Raj fans and players responded well and redoubled their efforts. By contrast, Chiang Rai responded by almost immediately employing time wasting tactics. The stretcher appeared three times before half time.

The second half was a similar story as Raj chased the game and CRU attacked on the break or attempted to run down the clock. The latter tactic was finally stopped after the eighth stretcher appearance on the field. A CRU player pretended to be limping off the pitch and was booked for time wasting.

Undeterred by such bad sportsmanship, Raj mixed the usual wing play with some attacks through the middle - another problem by its absence I mentioned last time - where they were given more space than they've had in recent games.

Still it seemed that it would not be enough. After all, Raj still lack a true poacher in attack and crosses and dangerous square balls in the box never seem to fall to the right person at the right time. I felt it would take a bit of luck to grab the equaliser but luck finally came through about ten minutes from time as waist-high cross bounced off the midriff of a CRU defender and somehow squirmed through to number fourteen Sarawut, who tapped it in.

The relief lifted the team further still and the lads chased the winner in the dying moments but it was not to come. Indeed, Yen Emile still had some saves to make which he did comfortably. It was yet another solid display from this reliable keeper. The heavy defeats of late were not his fault at all.

A draw was probably a fair score in this game. It's a shame CRU attempted to take the dirty way out but the great improvement in Rajpracha - coupled with a promise of new faces in the transfer window - should give us all hope for the relegation scrap we now face. Good job guys!

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Raj Vs Chiang Rai - quick preview

Rajpracha-Nonthaburi will be looking to break their nightmare losing streak tomorrow as they face off against Chiang Rai United.

The game was originally scheduled to take place a few weeks ago, but was cancelled an hour before kick off as a curfew was imposed in response tot he violence taking place in Bangkok.

Psychologically, this fixture should be ideal for Raj to return to winning ways. The last meeting between the two sides was played at Chiang Rai and ended in a victory for Rajpracha. It was Chiang Rai's second ever defeat in league football.

The fallout from Saturday's crushing defeat has been moderate. Many fans have expressed upset and concern. The club have responded by saying that all opinions are welcome but they ask for them to be expressed the right way. The club also stated that the coaches are aware of the problems and what needs to be done. No personnel have been changed.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010

No go for Raj V Chang Rai UPDATE

UPDATE: This game was cancelled anyway.

I was planning to attend the game between Raj and Chang Rai today but red shirts have blocked Rattanthibet road, which is on my route, with tyres.

I will keep up with the score from my PC.

**********

Nothaburi FC dropped more points, drawing 2-2 with Rose Asia last weekend.

Sunday, 22 November 2009

Highlights from Chang Rai United 0 Rajpracha 1

clip courtesy of cheerballthai

Pictures from siammsport.co.th

Niwet takes on a CRU plyer.

Kornprom goes down.

Niwet again?

Chaing Rai United 0 Rajpracha 1

In the first play off game of the season Raj were outclassed, out motivated and outwitted by Chaing Rai United on their own pitch. If you had told me after that game that Rajpracha would win the play off group, I would have laughed at you.

But this game completes the remarkable turnaround. Early reports indicate the match was very even, and the goal was the result of a mistake by a CRU defender.

It's only Chaing Rai's second ever league defeat in their history. Should they (Chaing Rai) fail to beat Loei City by two goals or more in their final game, Raj will win the group. You know what? They deserve it. In the last five games they've shown class, courage and desire. Congratulations, guys!

Saturday, 3 October 2009

Rajpracha 1 Chang Rai United 2

I'm sad to report that Rajpracha Nonthaburi went down 1 -2 in their play off game against Chang Rai United.

The first half was dominated by Chang Rai, with the away side showing greater pace and frequently wrong-footing the Rajpracha back line. It was a surprisingly one sided game for at least the first half hour, and the blues seemed strangely lacking in confidence. One overhit cross by a Chang Rai winger had the home goalkeeper screaming at his defenders to collect it, yet they froze and the keeper had to come out of his box to cover it.

On twenty four minutes the inevitable happened as number twenty six scored for Chang Rai with a header from point blank range. That lead was nearly doubled on two occasions within the next ten minutes. One excellent stop from the home goalie and a miss by centimeters kept the score down.

Two minutes before half time however the lead was indeed doubled as one player I couldn't identify scored from a penalty box scramble.

The second half saw a lot more pressure from Rajpracha with greater use of width, more ground passing and more pressure from the wing backs, yet still the hosts showed little penetration. A disputed penalty, taken by number seven (I think) allowed them back into the game. but the goal only served to wake up Chang Rai. An innocuous scuffle between two players bought police, security and a surprisingly aggressive poodle onto the pitch for the obligatory Thai football ruckus. This was the final highlight though, as Chang Rai played down the clock to seal a vital away win, much to the delight of the 150 or so traveling fans, who made good noise throughout.

Personal reflections of my first lower league game:

I enjoyed the game and was impressed with the attendance, which I'd guess was around 300 - 400 with good colour and noise from both sets of fans. The standard of football was not far behind the TPL. What did shock me was the seemingly blasé attitude from Rajpracha players. At half time they were smiling, play-fighting and making remarkably little effort at their warm up exercises. (The one exception to this being the African striker who came on at half time). Now when my team is losing two-nil in a play off game, I expect them to be seriously ticked off, not laughing,joking and chatting. The Brazilian coach was nowhere in sight and I saw absolutely no interaction between players and coaching staff other than someone handing the players water bottles. I understand many Rajpracha players are university students who get scholarships from the club. I expect them to be motivated and hungry to play in division one, just one step away from the Premiership.

EDIT: Some real pictures now thanks to the credited people.