Bangkok Casuals Football League Div. 2
Brass Monkey took on second place team The Sportsman last weekend, with the rights to be crowned second division champions on the line.
A heavy shower in Bangkok made the pitch slippery but both teams showed their attacking intent straight from the kick-off. The Sportsman were the first to go close as the center-forward gained some space on the break and brought a good save from Brass keeper Yongui. Brass fought back and started to control the midfield with their slick passing but they fell behind to a piece of misfortune as Yongui’s clearance hit a Sportsman player and the ball rebounded into an empty net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The Pattaya team fought to get back on level terms and Vorontzov’s free header from a corner flew just wide before Gavrylyshed’s curling cross-shot stretched the Sportsman’s keeper and was cleared to safety. Brass continued to press but they were unable to make any inroads before half-time.
After the break, Brass took the game once more to The Sportsman but the Pattaya forwards spurned chance after chance and when Gavrylyshen’s shot was cleared off the line it seemed that it was not to be their day.
Against the run of play The Sportsman gained a corner with the ball being cleared and falling to a Sportsman player on the halfway line. He then made a fine run and sent a shot past the Brass keeper to make it 2-0.
With this setback Brass still attacked the Sportsman’s goal and gained a free kick and an inch perfect center found the head of Matveev who made no mistake to make the score 2-1. Brass still pressed and a wonderful lob by Brass’s Dipita seemed destined to find the open goal until a Sportsman defender appeared from nowhere to head clear from under the bar and keep the score at 2-1.
Brass continued attacking until the end but they couldn’t find the finish when chances were created and the final whistle brought disappointment and the realization of a runners-up spot instead of being division champions. Brass’s season is still alive however as this coming weekend they play a semi-final match in Bangkok, kick off at 4-00p.m.
