RHB Singapore Cup: Samut Sakhon(THA) vs Super Reds Report [4-2]

RHB Singapore Cup: Samut Sakhon book last QF spot Syahrom Sulaiman info@sleague.com Thai side TTM Samut Sakhon booked the last remaining slot in the RHB Singapore Cup quarterfinals in style when they defeated the Super Reds 4-2 on Wednesday. The Thais dictated the pace of the game and three players in particular caught the attention of the spectators with their scintillating performances. Wingers Aly Camara and Narong Chansaweak, plus former Sengkang Punggol stalwart Paul Bekombo, proved to be constant menaces to the Super Reds’ defence. It was to no surprise that all three players had their names on the scoresheet after 90 minutes. The Super Reds twice came back from a goal down to equalise through goals from captain Yun Bo Young and midfielder Park Han Seok, but it proved to be a futile effort as individual mistakes proved costly for the Koreans at the end of the ninety minutes. Super Reds’ head coach Jeon Kyeong Joon cut a disappointed figure at the end of the game. He said: “My players had not much concentration in the game and it proved to be costly for us. “We trained a lot but what happens during training does not happen again during the game. I am disappointed with the mistakes,” Jeon commented. It was easy to see why the head coach was not a happy man. As early as the third minute, Samut Sakhon generated a great chance to open the scoring. Narong, who easily stood out in the game with his pace and silky skills, latched onto a simple cross-field ball by right-back Pradit Taweechai. Evading the offside trap, he surged through unopposed to blast the ball goalwards but custodian Kang Su Ho managed to palm the ball away. It was a sign of things to come and it was only a matter of time before the Thais opened the scoring. Four minutes to be exact. Playmaker Jetsada Boonruengrod passed the ball to Camara on the right flank and the Ivorian crossed the ball to Narong. The 23-year old Thai fizzed past defender Jin Sung Won before crossing low for Bekombo to tap the ball into goal from six yards out. Narong was causing all sorts of problems on the flanks that coach Jeon decided to substitute right-back Jing with Kim Tae Young as early as the 30th minute, switching the more stable Kim Seong Kyu to right-back. His team clawed themselves back into the match in the second half, when the Super Reds were awarded a penalty after substitute Choi Dong Soo was upended by defender Panuwat Failai in the penalty box. Captain Yun slotted the ball coolly past custodian Narong Wisetsri to draw both sides level in the 50th minute. However, the Super Reds were still finding it difficult to keep the other Narong quiet on the flanks. Just two minutes after the Super Reds’ goal, Narong outran his markers on the left flank and cut in before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed drive which Kang had no answer to. 2-1, and the game was starting to come alive. The Super Reds eventually strung a few good moves to try and breach the TTM defence but it would take a moment of brilliance to unlock a well-marshalled back line. The moment of brilliance did come in the 78th minute – and it came from the skilful 31-year old Park. Receiving the ball from a corner kick just outside the edge of the penalty box, Park produced a side-footed drive past the static Thai custodian. It was a superb finish of technique and power, and well were the Reds entitled to celebrate that goal. Alas, six minutes from time however, keeper Kang was to undo his team-mate’s effortby failing to hold onto a shot by Narong. The ball spilled to none other than the predatory Bekombo, who deservingly grabbed his second of the night with another simple tap-in. Camara capped off a fine individual performance by adding the icing on the cake with his team’s fourth goal. In the 90th minute, the winger sidestepped his way skillfully past defenders Park Chul Hyung and Shin Dae Kyung committing Kang and finishing coolly. Samut Sakhon coach Kit Meesrisuk was a happy man at the end of the game. “We used a counter-attacking strategy and it worked. We adapted well to conditions in Singapore, and we are looking forward to the next game.”