CHIANG RAI – Port FC booked their place in the next round of the Thai FA Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over Chiangrai United at PAT Stadium. Negueba scored the only goal in the 82nd minute, ending a tense quarterfinal that Port controlled for long stretches. While the home side created most of the pressure, Chiangrai United stayed in the match with a stubborn defensive display until the closing stages.
Many fans expected a more open contest, but the match turned into a tight tactical battle. Port FC saw plenty of the ball from the first whistle, yet Chiangrai United held their shape well and made space hard to find. In the end, Port’s patience paid off, and the result added another strong cup performance to their growing record in knockout football.
Match Summary: Port Push Forward, Chiangrai Hold Firm
Port FC entered the game as the stronger side on paper. They had home support behind them, strong recent form at PAT Stadium, and several attacking options across the pitch. Chiangrai United came in with a clear plan to stay compact, defend deep, and try to frustrate the hosts.
That approach worked for much of the match. Port moved the ball well and controlled territory, but clear chances were limited early on. The first half ended without a goal, and Chiangrai’s back line looked ready to force extra time. Still, Port kept pressing after the break, and their steady pressure finally led to the winner.
A crowd of 4,191 added to the atmosphere and gave the home side a lift. As the second half wore on, Port raised the tempo and attacked with more purpose. That final push brought the breakthrough, with Negueba finishing calmly to decide the tie.
Key Highlights: Tight Contest, Late Breakthrough
Several moments shaped the match and kept the tension high throughout the night:
- Port FC started on the front foot: The hosts attacked early, with Bordin Phala and Worachit Kanitsribumphen causing problems out wide. Their movement and crossing tested Chiangrai’s defense from the opening minutes.
- Chiangrai United defended with discipline: Although they spent long spells without the ball, the visitors stayed organized. Shinnaphat Leeaoh and Victor Cardozo did well in central areas and cleared repeated attacks.
- Negueba scored in the 82nd minute: After sustained pressure, the Brazilian found space, met a through ball, and finished past Saranon Anuin. It was a composed finish and the key moment of the match.
- Chiangrai failed to test the goalkeeper: The visitors did not record a single shot on target, which says a lot about Port FC’s control and defensive focus.
- Late frustration showed in the cards: As time ran down, Chiangrai United collected several yellow cards. Their discipline slipped as Port kept pushing and managed the game.
Taken together, those moments told the story clearly. Port FC had the ball, the chances, and the control. Chiangrai United battled hard, but they could not hold on until the final whistle.
Port FC Performance: Control, Pressure, and a Timely Finish
Port FC earned this win through steady possession and constant attacking intent. Surapong Kongthep’s side dictated the pace, moved the ball quickly, and kept Chiangrai pinned back for much of the night. Although the breakthrough came late, Port looked like the more likely winner throughout.
Negueba stood out most because of his winning goal, and his movement gave Chiangrai trouble all evening. Hamilton also played an important role, linking midfield and attack and helping Port find spaces between the lines. Airton and Frans Dhia Putros added balance, while the back line stayed alert and gave Chiangrai little to work with.
Goalkeeper Somporn Yos had a quiet match because Chiangrai rarely threatened. In front of him, Port stayed compact and recovered possession quickly. That helped them build wave after wave of attack and keep pressure on the visitors.
Port finished with 62% possession and six shots on target, which reflected how much they controlled the game. In addition, second-half substitutions gave the team fresh energy and helped them keep the tempo high until the winner arrived.
Here is the Port FC starting lineup table:
| Position/Player Role | Player Name |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Somporn Yos |
| Defender | Suphanan Bureerat |
| Defender | Pathomphon Charoenrattanapirom |
| Defender | Kevin Deeromram |
| Defender | E. Dolah |
| Midfielder | Frans Dhia Putros |
| Midfielder | Worachit Kanitsribumphen |
| Midfielder | Bordin Phala |
| Attacker | Hamilton |
| Attacker | Airton |
| Attacker | Negueba |
Port FC Bench: Pakorn Parmpak, Teerasak Poeiphimai, Charyl Chappuis, B. Davis, Tanaboon Kesarat, Worawut Namvech, M. Steuble, Worawut Srisupha, W. Weidersjoe. Three substitutions were used to keep the team sharp and aggressive.
This lineup gave Port a strong 4-3-3 shape, and that setup helped them control midfield while stretching Chiangrai across the pitch.
Chiangrai United Fall Short Despite Strong Defending
Chiangrai United deserve credit for staying in the tie as long as they did. Gabriel Magalhães set his side up to defend in numbers, protect central spaces, and limit Port’s clean looks at goal. For a long stretch, that plan worked well.
Saranon Anuin had an important game in goal and made several key saves to keep Chiangrai level. In front of him, Shinnaphat Leeaoh and Victor Cardozo handled a heavy workload and blocked or cleared a number of dangerous balls. Their effort gave the visitors hope deep into the second half.
Still, Chiangrai offered very little going forward. Their attacks often ended with long balls or rushed efforts, and they never looked settled in the final third. N. Bonilla and Gionata Verzura could not get into dangerous spots often enough, and the team failed to register a shot on target.
As the match slipped away, frustration grew. A high number of yellow cards broke up their rhythm and made it harder to mount a late response. Even so, their defensive shape and effort gave them something to build on, despite the result.
Here is the Chiangrai United starting lineup table:
| Position/Player Role | Player Name |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Saranon Anuin |
| Defender | N. Bonilla |
| Defender | Kim Ji-Min |
| Defender | Diego Landis |
| Defender | Shinnaphat Leeaoh |
| Midfielder | Victor Cardozo |
| Midfielder | Atikhun Meethoum |
| Midfielder | Montree Promsawat |
| Midfielder | Settasit Suvannaseat |
| Attacker | Sanukran Thinjom |
| Attacker | Gionata Verzura |
Chiangrai United Bench: Thakdanai Jaihan, Chotipat Poomkaew, Akarawin Sawasdee, Suriya Singmui, Tanasak Srisai, Suradis Pateh, Apisorn Phumchat, Apirak Worawong, Sarawut Yodyinghathaikul. Two substitutions were made during the match.
Chiangrai lined up in a 4-4-2 and focused on staying compact. That gave them some protection at the back, but it did not give them enough creativity or support in attack.
Statistical Breakdown: Port FC on Top
The match stats make Port FC’s control easy to see:
- Possession: 62% (Port FC) vs 38% (Chiangrai United)
- Shots on Target: 6 vs 0
- Total Shots: 15 vs 4
- Corners: 6 vs 4
- Yellow Cards: 6 vs 16 (Chiangrai United received far more cautions)
Those numbers show just how much of the game Port FC managed. While the final score stayed close, the flow of play heavily favored the home team. Port also recorded 144 attacks compared to Chiangrai United’s 91, which underlined their territorial edge.
What the Result Means
For Port FC, this victory brings both momentum and belief. They remain alive in the Thai FA Cup and can now look ahead to the next round with confidence. Just as important, the performance showed they can stay patient and find a way through even when space is limited.
For Chiangrai United, the cup run ends here, so the focus now shifts back to league form. Their defensive effort gave them a platform, but the lack of attacking threat remains a clear issue. If they want better results, they need more from the final third.
This 1-0 win will stand out as another hard-earned Port FC cup success. It was not a high-scoring match, but it had all the tension and pressure that make knockout football so compelling.
In short, Port FC deserved to go through. Negueba’s late goal settled a difficult contest, and the hosts earned their place in the next round through control, patience, and steady pressure. Chiangrai United fought hard, but Port had too much quality on the night.
