Thailand 0-2 City
Posted on: Sat 09 Oct 2010
Leicester City earned an impressive 2-0 victory over the Thai national side in sweltering conditions at the Supachalasai Stadium, thanks to goals from Martyn Waghorn and Paul Gallagher. City were unlucky not to win by more goals than that, as Steve Howard had a goal disallowed and Waghorn and Gallagher hit the woodowk.
The game was a good work out for City who will return to England on Sunday, ahead of their crucial league match against Hull City in the npower Championship.
Sven-Goran Eriksson named a strong starting line-up for City's landmark friendly against the Thai national side. The new City boss made four changes to the side that beat Scunthorpe United 3-1 last weekend.
In come Chris Weale, Michael Lamey, Matt Oakley who wears the captain's armband and Dany N'Guessan, replacing Carl Ikeme, Andy King who is on international duty, Lloyd Dyer and Miguel Vitor.
City kicked off their friendly clash against Thailand in heavy rain and humid conditions, in front of a sizeable crowd.
After just a minute, Steve Howard, crashed the ball towards goal but Kawin saved well in goal.
Paul Gallagher was caught offside in a good position on the right-wing for City, after a sweeping pass from skipper, Matt Oakley. The home side showed good early possession, without any cutting edge.
Martyn Waghorn gave City the lead after just nine minutes, with a very composed finish from inside the area. Impressive stuff from City, who have managed to get a grip on this game.
An unfortunate looking injury to Suree Sukha, meant he left the field to be replaced by Ponlawat Wangkahad. The temperature, which has risen throughout the opening exchanges, was making things pretty uncomfortable for the players.
Chris Weale was alert to the danger of Nutnum, firstly cutting out a throughball and then latterly preventing a curling cross in the 28th minute. Then City hit back to attack the home side, with Waghorn hitting the bar from a Gallagher cross after Jack Hobbs flicked on for the Foxes.
On the half hour mark Howard earned some space outside the area, but shot well over as the away side looked to increase their lead.
In the 34th minute, Paul Gallagher curled a fantastic goal in to the right-hand corner of the goal, after clever work from Richie Wellens, to give City a two-goal advantage.
City were frustrated with a string of decisions, but managed a breakaway through Waghorn, who shot when Oakley was perhaps better placed. Another stoppage due to injury allowed the players in the 42nd minute to take on extra fluids in the oppressive heat. Then N'Guessan broke through after neat play with Oakley, but he was blocked and injured in the impact of the challenge.
At half-time City were leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Martyn Waghorn and Paul Gallagher, as City took further control of the fixture.
City made three half-time changes to the side with Tom Kennedy, Franck Moussa and Joao Teixiera replacing Bruno Berner, Dany N'Guessan and Richie Wellens.
Kennedy made an immediate impact, with a great cross from the left after skipping past the Thai defence. His cross was thumped home by Howard, only to be harshly disallowed for a foul.
Thailand attacked with pace down the left-hand side through substitute Bunmatan, but his cross was easily dealt with by Chris Weale. A long throughball towards Steve Howard nearly yielded City's third in the 62nd minute, but his powerful shot was well saved by Thamasatchanan.
Tom Parkes and Conrad Logan replaced Steve Howard and Chris Weale as City used their substitutions wisely.
Lamey and Moussa combined to clear well for City after 64 minutes as the home side pushed for a goal, to no avail.
A great run just moments later from Paul Gallagher led to an inviting cross from the skillful winner, but Oakley and Waghorn were unable to get on the end of the ball.
The impressive Tom Kennedy again threatened out wide for the Foxes and found Moussa, who was adjudged to have fouled Samana. Kennedy then found Oakley, whose shot went just past the post in the 80th minute as City searched for a third.
Waghorn came very close for City as his explosive run broke through the home defence but his shot was again well saved.
As the game slowed down considerably City eased to a 2-0 victory against Thailand, thanks to first-half goals from Martyn Waghorn and Paul Gallagher.
City: Weale, Lamey, Morrison, Hobbs, Berner, Gallagher, Wellens, Oakley, N'Guessan, Howard, Waghorn.
Subs: Teixiera, Logan, Kennedy, Moussa, Parkes, Ikeme
