Only five league games were actually played over the first weekend of the new season thanks to Muang Thong United’s Champions League match (see below) and Thai Port’s friendly match against J-League 2 side Shonan Bellmare.
 
 
Results Roundup

The big match was at Thephasadin Stadium where a sell-out crowd of 6,500 saw BEC Tero Sasana edged out 2-1 by title-favourites Buriram PEA. The visitors were good value for their 2-0 lead, but a stunning Teerathep Winothai volley seven minutes from full time gave Tero hopes of claiming a draw. As it was, PEA held on for victory. Pattaya also won 2-1 against Bangkok Glass in the weekend’s other eye-catching fixture. The Glass Rabbits are expected by many to have a much better season than they did last time out, but they got off to the worst possible start at the IPE Stadium in Chonburi. The narrow margin of victory doesn’t reflect a poor BG performance in a match dominated by the Dolphins. Elsewhere, Sriracha’s first match back in the TPL ended in a 1-1 draw against Samut Songkhram. The game was blessed by two stunning goals and e may have already seen the goal-of-the-season in Choklap Nilsang’s wondrous 30-metre strike for Songkhram. Police United beat TOT 1-0 at home, and Chiang Rai’s debut in the TPL ended in a 3-1 defeat at TTM Phichit.
Muang Thong shot down
Muang Thong United bowed out of the Asian Champions League at the earliest stage possible. A thrilling match, against Sriwijaya of Indonesia, finished 2-2 after extra time. The one-off East Zone play-off was eventually won 7-6 in a penalty shoot-out by the Indonesians. This early exit is a huge blow for MTU who had intended to make serious strides into the Champions League this season having become the dominate force in the domestic game and having made it to the semi-finals of the AFC Cup (the lesser of Asia’s two club cup competitions) last year. It’s also a blow to the FAT’s hopes of getting back its automatic Champions League place for the winners of the TPL. The AFC stripped Thailand of that right before the 2009 season dus to the unprofessionalism of the TPL. Off the pitch, things have much improved but MTU’s failure certainly won’t convince anyone at AFC HQ that things have improved enough for the automatic spot to be restored.
Rene moves up north
Former Muang Thong United coach Rene Desaeyere has surprisingly resurfaced at Division 1 newcomers Chiang Mai F.C. Desaeyere led MTU to the title, the FA Cup final and the AFC Cup semi-finals in 2010 but was sacked in January, though the Belgian remains tight-lipped over why his contract was terminated. The Lanna Tigers have certainly had to pay to get their man. The 500,000 baht per month Desayere will receive for the next two years almost certainly makes him the best paid coach in the Kingdom.
The Weekend ahead

Another shortened fixture list this weekend. Just three TPL matches being played and only one Bangkok team involved. That team is Thai Port who have a difficult task away at Chonburi. Sisaket host Siam Navy and Osotspa travel to Khon Kaen. In fact, there’s more interest for Bangkok-based fans in Division 1 this weekend. Bangkok United host Buriram on Saturday at Bangkok University, Rangsit. And Bangkok F.C are at home to Thai Honda at Bang Mod Stadium, Thonburi on Sunday. Both matches kick off at 18:00.