Chula held to 1-1 draw with Thammasat in Chang U-CHAMPION CUP 2022
21/04/2022
Exclusive Interview with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sommai Pivsa-Art: RMUTT University, Build for “Practitioners”
22/04/2022
Siam Sports Edition, April 21, 2022
Chula Draws with Thammasat 1-1 in Chang U-Champion Cup Opener
The 14th “Chang U-Champion Cup 2022” football tournament for university students officially kicked off with a simple ceremony at the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi’s Klong 6 football field. The opening match saw the defending champions, “the Royalists,” Chulalongkorn University, take an early lead, but ultimately, they were held to an exciting 1-1 draw by the relentless attacks of “the Dome Children,” Thammasat University.
The “Chang U-Champion Cup 2022” is the 14th iteration of the football competition offering over 500,000 baht in educational grants, running from April to May 2022. Sixteen higher education institutions, both public and private, are participating in the tournament, which is divided into two formats: a mini-league system with two groups, followed by a knockout stage.
On April 21, 2022, the official opening ceremony of the competition was conducted at the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi’s Klong 6 football field. Present were Assoc.Prof.Dr. Sommai Pivsa-Art, President of RMUTT; Lecturer Akom Samutkojorn, Chairman of the Organizing Committee; along with Mr. Phasawat Peetarangsri, Relationship Development Manager at Thai Beverage Public Company Limited; and other distinguished guests. The group B opening match between the past champions “the Royalists,” from Chulalongkorn University and “the Dome Children,” from Thammasat University, officially commenced the competition.
The competition began with the former champions who tried to score more than once, but they couldn’t penetrate Dome’s mother’s defense. At minute 14, Thammasat University had the first chance when Kritsada Konkla set up a shot from the middle of the goal in front of the penalty box, but the ball missed the frame, creating an exciting moment. In the 21st minute, Chulalongkorn University took the lead from a free-kick situation before the penalty area shifted to the left when Natthawat Thoban Sung shot the ball through the wall, hitting the post before Prachprecha Petchthong followed up to score, giving the team a 1-0 lead.
After conceding, Thammasat University stepped up the offense, looking to equalize, but the final touches were lacking. During the two minutes of injury time, Chookit Wannaprae managed to take a shot in the penalty box, shifted to the right, and the ball missed the goal, going to the far post. With that, the first half concluded with Chulalongkorn University leading Thammasat University 1-0.
In the second half, Dome’s team continued to have a better offensive game. At minute 52, Krisanaphol Boonchari got through into the penalty area on the left and tried to chip the ball past Isamai Mana, the goalkeeper of Chulalongkorn, but the ball hit the keeper and was blocked.
Afterward, Dome’s team still controlled the ball and had the better offense, but they couldn’t seem to find a good goal opportunity until the 88th minute when their persistence paid off. A cross came in from the left flank into the penalty area, and Wutichai Nuannoi headed it back to the first post, and Isamai Mana, the goalkeeper of Chulalongkorn University, let the ball slip through his hands, allowing Thammasat University to score an equalizer, 1-1.
No further goals were scored by either team for the remainder of the match. The competition ended in a draw between the former champions “Sons of the Kiew” from Chulalongkorn University and “Sons of Dome” from Thammasat University, with a score of 1-1, splitting the points between the two teams. After the game, the Sportsmanship Award was given to the number 7 midfielder from Chulalongkorn University, Mr. Kantinan Janmoontri.
For the next match program of the mini-league round, the competition will resume on April 25, 2023, with a total of 8 pairs. At Kasem Bundit University field, at 14:00, Silpakorn University will face University of Business Administration; at 16:00, Kasem Bundit University will face Ratana Bundit University. At Bangkok Thonburi University field, at 14:00, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi will meet Bangkok Thonburi University; at 16:00, Bangkok University will face Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin. In Group B, at Chulalongkorn University field, at 14:00, Pathum Thani University will meet Kasetsart University; at 16:00, Chulalongkorn University will play against North Bangkok University. At King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, at 14:00, Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin will face Thonburi University; at 16:00, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok will compete with Thammasat University.
