FUTERA UNITED 0-4 KHUNSUEK SARABURI

Sunday 20th April 2025 - 16:00pm Thailand / 09:00am GMT - TSP - VRU Stadium

A bitterly disappointing performance at the VRU Stadium saw Futera United succumb to their first defeat of the season, as they were humbled 4-0 by Khunsuek Saraburi, denting their title aspirations.

Futera welcomed back club captain Khun and Tunbappe from injury, with Jew moving into midfield as they looked to build on their promising start to the campaign. Visitors Khunsuek Saraburi—a strong, powerful side—started brightly, looking to get in behind the Futera defence at every opportunity. A slow start from the home side sparked into life in the 10th minute when excellent work from Tunbappe saw him beat the Saraburi full-back before finding Phu, whose shot was blocked by the away team’s centre-back. Minutes later, a strong run from Aon had the Saraburi defence back-pedalling, and his neat through ball allowed Phu to drive into the box before unleashing a powerful angled drive that the keeper did well to push away for a corner.

In the 23rd minute, a deep corner from Phu found Bas at the far post, and his header was rather fortuitously saved by the Saraburi keeper—who, I don’t think, knew much about it—as he diverted the effort for another corner. With Futera seemingly on top and looking for the opening goal, poor defending allowed the visitors to take the lead. Two ill-judged challenges gave Saraburi a run on goal, and despite Khun’s heroic block, the rebound was calmly converted over a number of covering defenders to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Once again, Futera had conceded the first goal and would need a strong second-half performance to turn the match around. Saraburi went close minutes after the restart when their centre-forward was inches away from connecting with a wicked curling cross that had the Futera back line at sixes and sevens. Futera responded, with Khun going close—connecting with Phu’s inswinging corner—but failing to get enough power on his volley to trouble the Saraburi keeper. A neat through ball from Aon sent Tunbappe through on goal before he was cynically brought down by a Saraburi defender. From the resulting free-kick, Jew was slow to react to Ninja’s lay-off, and his wild swipe at the ball resulted in him connecting with the Saraburi midfielder—leaving the referee no choice but to send him off for a second bookable offence.

Futera would now have to chase the game in blistering 38-plus degree heat with ten men. Saraburi took advantage in the 65th minute when a clever through ball eluded the Futera defence, allowing their centre-forward to run through and calmly finish to double the visitors’ lead. A dejected Futera side now looked extremely leggy, and they fell further behind when—once again due to extremely poor defending, with three players diving in and going to ground—the Saraburi winger was allowed to cross for their striker to slot home and make it 3-0. The entire afternoon was summed up in the 94th minute when Film’s attempt to play out from the back went straight to the Saraburi forward, who gleefully tapped the ball into the empty net to complete a 4-0 victory for the away side and a truly miserable afternoon for Futera.

It was an extremely poor display from Futera, who tasted defeat for the first time this season. A loss is always difficult to take, but I felt that this team was there for the taking. They were strong and direct, but I believed our players had the ability to come out on top. Unfortunately, our players didn’t turn up and produced a listless performance, showing no real passion or desire. We can talk about formations and tactics, but if the players don’t have the commitment to run back, make tackles, and have the courage to get on the ball and play, we are not going to progress out of this league. I feel the players were poor, but the coaching staff cannot escape criticism either. They made some poor calls—notably leaving Jew on when he clearly wasn’t fit, and taking off our two most threatening attacking players, Phu and Tunbappe, when we were chasing goals.

Overall, there’s a feeling of utter frustration, as I really felt we had a great opportunity this year to secure promotion. I don’t see any outstanding team in this league, and when our boys needed to stand up and be counted, they failed miserably. With two games left to go, we must pick ourselves up, go all out for two wins, and hope the results go our way.