Thailand 1-1 Newcastle United (Toon lose
4-2 on pens) |
|
Date:
Wednesday 14th July 2004
Kick Off: 6.00pm local time (12.00pm UK)
Venue: Rajamangala Stadium Bangkok
Att: 40,000 Estimated
Ref: N/A
Comp: Pre-Season Friendly |
| Pre-Season
Match Report In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
Toon Thai-d Up In Pre-Season Drama
Newcastle lost the first game of their Far East Pre-Season Tour this
afternoon as Thailand proved no pushover's in Bangkok by defeating
the Toon 4-2 on penalties after the 90 minutes ended 1-1 as 40,000
plus looked on from the impressive Rajamangala Stadium.
The quick and energetic Thai team set about Newcastle from the off
and it didn't take them long to score when a long ball over the top
wasn't cut out by Titus Bramble - allowing Chaikamdee, Thailand's
number 9, to race onto it to beat Shay Given with only 20 minutes
on the clock. With the temperature reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit
United found the going tough but managed to go into the break only
1-0 down.
As expected Bobby made some changes at half-time, bringing on Lee
Bowyer for Gary Speed in central midfield, James Milner for his senior
debut in place of Laurent Robert on the left and Shola Ameobi for
Alan Shearer up front. With the fresh legs Newcastle were getting
to grips with the game with Milner showing some neat touches and Bowyer
stamping his authority on the midfield. Indeed Bowyer's combative
play earned him a yellow card after a crunching challenge on Thailand's
goalscorer towards the hour mark.
Unperturbed by his booking Bowyer did what he did in two of United's
last 3 games at the end of last Season - grabbed himself a goal. Jermaine
Jenas back from the injury that ruled him out of 2003-2004's finale
won possession in midfield before threading it through to the ex-Leeds
United man. Bowyer in turn slipped it through to Darren Ambrose who
had a crack at goal. Thailand's keeper however could only parry the
shot out to Bowyer who had continued his run to smash home a half
volley for the equaliser on 62 minutes.
Having pleaded to be played in the middle before the game and during
the majority of last season, Bowyer's goal will hopefully serve to
remind Bobby that central-midfield is his best position.
Not long after Bowyer's goal Bobby brung on more subs. First Steven
Taylor, Martin Brittain and Lewis Guy - making his senior debut also
- for Aaron Hughes, Ambrose and Michael Chopra respectively on 69
minutes followed by a further two on 75 minutes with Tony Caig replacing
Given in goal and Jamie McClen replacing Jenas in the middle.
Neither could win the game despite a few chances falling to both sides
so the game went to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
Thailand converted their first penalty as did United with Shola putting
his away and after the Thai's went 2-1 up having slotted home their
second penalty, Bowyer kicked his over the bar giving the hosts the
numerical advantage, but their 3rd penalty was sent wide of Caig's
goal. Up stepped new signing Milner, his shot was saved by the Thai
keeper meaning they only needed to convert their last two penalties
and that's what they did to win the match despite Brittain slotting
his home.
So Newcastle, for the second Season running crumble in a penalty shoot-out
on Asian soil - let's hope 9 months of torture doesn't follow as it
did last Season when Jenas's woeful penalty miss in Malaysia set the
tone for, well...a woeful season.
Even in a Pre-Season game Newcastle are still capable of conjuring
up drama - only the Toon loses meaningless matches in such a way...only
the Toon.
Next up: Kitchee
Vs The Toon, Sunday 18th July, Honkong Stadium, K.O 1.00pm (UK time)
| Team Lineups & Match Facts |
| Thailand |
Newcastle
United |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 1-0
Full-Time: 1-1
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Chaikamdee (20)
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: Bowyer (62)
Yellow Cards: Bowyer (59)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 8
Caig (for Given 75), Taylor (for Hughes 69), Brittain (for Ambrose
69), McClen (for Jenas 75), Bowyer (for Speed 45), Milner (for
Robert 45), Ameobi (for Shearer 45), Guy (for Chopra 69).
Injuries: None to report of
Penalties 4-2 To Thailand
1-0 Thailand score
1-1 Ameobi scores
2-1 Thailand score
2-1 Bowyer misses, over the bar
2-1 Thailand miss, wide of the goal
2-1 Milner misses, Thai keeper saves
3-1 Thailand score
3-2 Brittain scores
4-2 Thailand score |
| Hathairatanakul |
Given |
| Phoruandee
|
Hughes |
| Siriwong |
O'Brien |
| Promwut
|
Bramble |
| Chaiman |
Elliott |
| Panrit |
Ambrose |
| Vivatchaichok |
Jenas |
| Thonglao
|
Speed |
| Suksomkij |
Robert |
| Surinsirirat |
Shearer |
| Chaikamdee |
Chopra |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Rawangpa |
Harper |
|
Jitsawad |
Caig
|
| Keelalay |
Taylor |
|
Joemdee |
Bernard
|
| Surasiang |
Milner |
| Thiamba |
Brittain
|
| Singthong |
McClen |
| Tanganurat |
Bowyer
|
| Choeichiu |
Ameobi |
| Vachiraban
|
Guy
|
| How The Goals Were Scored |
Thailand Goal 20 Minutes: Chaikamdee
The hosts took the lead after 20 minutes of play when a long ball
over the top caught Bramble napping leaving Chaikamdee to race through
to slot the ball past Given.
Newcastle Goal 62 Minutes: Lee Bowyer
Jenas won possession in midfield and played it forward to Bowyer who
turned and fed Ambrose - Ambrose then let rip with a shot that the
Thai keeper could only parry out towards Bowyer who had continued
his run to smash in a half volley just inside the box for the equaliser.
| Match Reaction From Sir Bobby & Alan Shearer |
Sir Bobby said:
"It was a useful exercise for us, as
we knew it would be. Thailand played well, they were fit and technically
good and they gave us a good game.
"We knew our lads
would tire because of the heat and the humidity, and I think you saw
that was the case.
"At the end of the game I felt a
draw was probably a fair result. They could have led 2-0 at half time,
but we got back into it and had a couple of one-on-one situations
with Shola and Chopra.
"We also should have had a penalty
when young Lewis Guy was clearly fouled in the box, but the referee
declined to give it.
"We can't crib though, it was a
useful exercise for us and we'll build on it and improve. We go to
Hong Kong now, then we have eight days back at home training before
the next game so we will get better."
Shearer said:
"Once again we've lost a penalty shootout.
It's not for the first time, but I'd like to think it will be the
last!
"It was tough because of the heat, but like the
manager says it was a good exercise and it will do us good.
"I felt we did well in the second half in particular, and it
was a great finish from Lee Bowyer to get us back on level terms."
Ewan (forum member) said:
"For nearly
half an hour Newcastle looked like a team. The movement was good,
passing all the time and Milner showed excellent ball control and
composure, frequently bypassing his man as though the guy was stuck
to the floor. Bowyer was committed and tackling well, bringing some
steel to the midfield that had previously been absent.
"Booked on 59m for a wonderful foul, though he got the ball first
he made sure his other foot got the player. 62m - cracking goal from
Bowyer. Ambrose had space on the right and ran into the area firing
in a shot on target, keeper blocked and the rebound fell to Bowyer
on the edge of the area. Bang, goal. Shortly after that though it
began to go down hill again with a flurry of substitutions."
Skeletor (forum member) said:
"We
have to remember a few things: We're not used to playing in 100 degrees
fahrenheit conditions. We're not fully fit and missing key players.
M. Bison and Sagat probably threatened them. No need to panic yet."
The Old Fox (forum member) said:
"The
sad part of this, is our replacement left back is Elliot, that shows
how strong this squad is. But its a meaningless journey and match
apart - from the money supposedly earned and the chance to collect
more injuries. There is still a lot of dead wood in the squad."
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about this match with fellow supporters in the match thread! |
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