THERDSAK LEADS SAFFC OVER PROVINCIAL ELECTRIC IN EXTRA TIME

Provincial had the best of start in the match that was played at the Rajamangala Stadium when Apipoo Suntornpanavej gave the hosts the early lead in the sixth minute when he beat the offside trap to beat SAFFC custodian Toh Guo’an.

But SAFFC replied in the 29th minute through Kenji Arai who made good off a corner from Therdsak for the equaliser.

Provincial pushed harder in the second half but with both teams unable to change the score line, the game was forced into extra-time.

Just five minutes in, Therdsak gave SAFFC the lead for the first time on the night when he converted a penalty after Provincial’s Apichate Puttan was penalised by Korean referee Kim Dong-jin.

Some hesitant defending in the 100th minute on the part of Provincial allowed Mustaqim Manzur to score the third goal for SAFFC as Therdsak then plunged the final nail in the closing stages of the match for the well-deserved 4-1 win.

With the victory, SAFFC will now take on Indonesian side PSMS Medan (on 25 Feb 2009) for the right to be in the main draw of the AFC Champions League 2009.

Provincial on the other hand will have to look at playing in the lower-tier of the AFC Cup.