I was fortunate enough to witness such a match in the 2022/23 season when Phuket Andaman FC (PAFC) faced Young Singh Hatyai United. It was also the first game I attended with my six-year-old daughter. At half-time, with PAFC trailing 0-3 and thoroughly outplayed, I asked my daughter if she wanted to leave. We opted to stay, moving to the other side of the stadium for a change of scenery.
What followed was an unforgettable experience. PAFC staged a stirring comeback, snatching a 4-3 victory in extra time. I spent a considerable amount of time afterwards explaining to my daughter that not all games were this exhilarating, and perhaps our footballing experiences could only decline from that moment onwards and games like that don’t happen again.
Yesterday’s game (Nov 24), however, proved to be another one of those exceptional moments. No one in the Phuket camp harboured any real expectations going into this fixture. Suratthani City were unbeaten in eight games, boasting a solid defence and playing on a pitch that resembled a marsh – conditions that wouldn’t suit PAFC’s typically fluid passing game.
To compound matters, Mark, our defensive lynchpin and frequent goal threat, was absent. Most of the players and the coach himself seemed pessimistic, a pre-game draw feeling like a satisfactory outcome. What unfolded, however, was one of the most entertaining games of football I have witnessed since… well, since that game in 2022/23.
It must be said that this was not a game for the football purist. The treacherous pitch often rendered the contest more akin to rugby or ice skating than “the beautiful game”.
PAFC, true to form, started on the front foot, but initially to no avail. Left wing-back Ohm had a volleyed shot saved in the first minute, and Phuket squandered chances from three corners within the opening ten minutes.
The game then found a rhythm, becoming an end-to-end affair with the pitch adding an element of unpredictable chaos. The ball frequently became stuck in puddles, and players were constantly losing their footing.
In the 19th minute, Suratthani forward Kritsada capitalised on a parry by Phuket keeper Bee – a save he really should have held – to give the home side the lead.
PAFC responded in the best possible manner, pushing forward with renewed vigour and midfielder Wa particularly influential, imposing himself on the game.
In the 27th minute, Bebe levelled the score, turning in a corner. The game continued its frenetic pace, and Phuket captain Kla was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card for a series of robust challenges that went unpunished.
Then, in the 36th minute, PAFC broke into the Suratthani half and midfielder Prem unleashed a magnificent shot that flew past the Surat keeper, giving the visitors the lead. Within a minute of the restart, PAFC won the ball back, and striker Bank, not to be outdone, fired in a beautiful long-range effort, seemingly putting the game beyond doubt.
Unlike in previous games, PAFC refused to sit back and continued to attack, keeping the home side under pressure. They were unlucky not to extend their lead further before the break, with wing-backs Game and Ohm pushing high up the pitch and pinning the Surat wide players back in their own half. Bebe’s animated reactions to some robust challenges towards the end of the half drew pantomime boos from the home fans, who accused him of play-acting.
TREACHEROUS SURFACE
The second half began in much the same vein. Bank was unfortunate to slip on the treacherous surface when clean through on goal. The tireless Bebe and Bank linked up effectively throughout, with the Ivorian’s close ball control causing constant problems for the Surat midfield and defence.
Around the hour mark, fatigue began to set in for PAFC, and coach Tum was arguably too slow to make substitutions and consolidate the lead. When he did eventually make a change in the 72nd minute, introducing attacker Rahaman for Wa, it arguably weakened the midfield. Suratthani sensed an opportunity and increased their attacking thrust, culminating in Kritsada grabbing his second goal with a simple tap-in at the back post.
With momentum shifting, Suratthani pushed forward, creating several chances. In the 85th minute, their giant defender Josimar was left unmarked in the box and deftly headed the ball past Bee to equalise. Keeper Bee, it has to be said, could be considered culpable for all three goals conceded. Despite his excellent distribution, his positioning within the area needs improvement.
In most games, both sides might have settled for a draw as the 90th minute approached. But PAFC, once again, found another gear, launching a series of attacks in the eight minutes of stoppage time that had been added.
Then, in the 96th minute, striker Bank emerged as the hero. A cross from the right was deflected into his path by a defender, and he expertly headed the ball across the goal to restore PAFC’s lead.
There was still time for one final dramatic twist as keeper Bee was fortunate to avoid a red card in the last minute when he punched defender Josimar, accusing him of encroaching while he was diving for a save.
The result left PAFC sitting in 10th place in the 12-team league as the campaign takes a mid-season break.
Man of the Match: 9 - ‘Bank’ Sarod. The two-goal striker took his first goal beautifully and ultimately won the game in the most dramatic fashion with his injury-time header. He was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition. With more consistency, he could undoubtedly perform at a higher level.
Formation: 3-5-2
PAFC Line Up:
99 - ‘Bee’ Anawin (GK)
55 - ‘Kla’ Patapee
4 - ‘Bass’ Akkharadech
66 - ‘Keng’ Patapee
79 - ‘Ohm’ Athagorn
17 - ‘Game’ Satawat
27 - ‘Min’ Kittinan
47 - ‘Wa’ Wuttichai
18 - ‘Prem’ Saekoy
77 - ‘Bebe’ Coulibary
9 - ‘Bank’ Sarod (MOTM)
Substitutes:
46 - ‘Pang’ Mumadirfan
7 - ‘Rahman’ Abdelrahman (Sub for 47 72”)
26 - ‘Preuk’ Kitipat
8 - ‘Petch’ Chinnatan
6 - ‘Not’ Kanin
21 - ‘Ball’ Muhammad (Sub for 17 90”)
29 - ‘Pong’ Pokpong
25 - ‘Chao Pan’ Kwanchai (Sub for 77 96”)
11 - ‘Torky’ Abdelrahman
41 - ‘Phum’ Sathaporn
Looking Ahead: With the end of the first leg of the season, the team now has almost two months until their next competitive game. Significant changes are expected during this break. Both of the team’s foreign players are anticipated to depart, along with a few other players. Coach Tum has spoken of his desire to bring in several new faces throughout the team, players who understand his tactical and training philosophies and will allow him to implement his preferred 4-3-3 formation.
Despite yesterday’s victory, the team needs a thorough overhaul, a process that, in hindsight, should have happened in the summer. It will be fascinating to see what the starting lineup looks like for the next match against PT Satun FC at home on Jan 18.