FUTERA UNITED 6 - 2 PVV FC

SUNDAY 28th AUGUST 2022 - 19:00pm Thailand / 13:00pm BST / 12:00pm GMT - BPL 4

After a week off, due to last weekend’s cup games, Futera United returned to action against PVV FC looking to consolidate their position at the top of the Bangkok Premier Div 4. The break had helped Futera with their injuries and it was a strong looking squad that assembled at the Aimphan Stadium, with skipper Jew the only notable absentee.

Futera started confidently and were immediately on the front foot dominating possession and moving the ball with purpose. In the 15th minute a wicked inswinging corner from Phu, was met by a Bank glancing header that narrowly flew over the bar. Bank’s disappointment was short lived as minutes later after a mix up in the PVV defence, he latched onto a loose ball to fire home a firm left foot strike to give Futera the lead. Although Futera were totally dominant, a misplaced pass in the midfield allowed the PVV midfield player to stride through and shoot narrowly wide. An audacious back hill from Gael, when maybe he should have laid the ball back, was well saved by the PVV keeper and a blatant penalty appeal, when Bank was charged off the ball, was waved away by the referee.

The second goal finally came when the tireless Bank, who had put in an excellent performance, won the ball back and surged into the box only to be pulled back for a penalty. Skipper for the day John calmly blasted the ball past the PVV keeper to score his seventh goal of the season. Not having heeded the earlier warning, Futera were caught cold from the kick off and the PVV right winger cut in from the right to unleash an ustoppable worldie of a shot that flew over Film’s despairing dive to make the half time score a lot less comfortable for the home side at 2-1.

Basil and Pang were both introduced for the second half to give Futera’s defence more stability and as in the first half they dominated possession fashioning several half chances. Gael and Few seemed to get in each other's way from a corner when it looked easier to score, and Phu went close with a shot from the edge of the box. After a period of neat possession from Futera, Ice moved the ball onto his right foot to drill a low shot from outside the box into the bottom left hand corner to restore their two goal lead. Once again PVV hit back almost instantly when a ball over the top, from their impressive midfield playmaker, allowed the striker to reduce the deficit and make the score 3-2.

The game now became more open with spaces opening up all over the pitch. Few went close with a spectacular overhead kick that was charged down by the PVV centre-back before a powerful clearance from Basil caused confusion in the PVV defence and the ball fell nicely to Few to slot the ball home into an empty net. Futera were now in control against their dogged opponents and added a further two goals in the closing minutes. A fine 50 yard raking ball from Tewit found Nu, who sidestepped the defender to fire home and then a delightful through ball from Oat was helped on by Art for Few to score his second of the game. A 6-2 win for Futera United was rather harsh on their opponents who had played their part in an immensely enjoyable game.

Futera stay top but made rather hard work of a game that they should have been in total control of. Another stellar performance from Few, who grabbed a brace, and must be knocking on the door for a starting place. Bank put in a phenomenal first half, showing great skill and intense pressing, he terrorised the PVV defence and I thought Ice showed what a good player he really is. At the moment every team we play really want to beat us and seem to up their game tenfold. It now appears to be a straight forward shoot-out for the title with JB Academy, who also had an emphatic victory. The season is bubbling up to what could be an amazing climax for Futera in their debut season.