PSM upset by Krung Thai Bank

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Playing before 16 thousand home fans in the Mattoangin Stadium, PSM lost 3-2 to Krung Thai Bank in a Group F match, in the Asian Champions League here on Wednesday.

It was PSM's second defeat after a 1-5 drubbing by Hoang Ahn Gia Lai of Vietnam.

Krung Thai Bank jumped to a 3-0 lead early with the goals made by Piyawat Thongmaeng in the 12th minute, Chirawat Kunlawong in the 17th and Phithitpong Choeichung in the 27th.

PSM reduced the gap in the 38th minute through Ortizan Salossa before Akbar Rasyid scored the host's second goal in the 75th minute.

Early in the game, PSM took the attacking initiative to leave the Thais busy defending.

But the course somehow took a U-turn after Budiman Buswir conceded a goal. Pirawat sent a blistering shot from the left wing with Budiman unable to parry.

The goal brought the PSM players down. They became vulnerable in the defense which resulted in conceding to two more goals. Salossa found the net for the host before the break.

The home players seemed to retrieve their confidence. Their game became alive in the second half, typically characterized by embattling and fast play.

Under heavy downpour, they tried to pile pressure on the opponents. Their efforts paid off with Rasyid successfully making the best of Ortizan's neatly taken cross.

The Thais occasionally launched counter attacks and managed to cling to victory in the end.

Indonesia's other representative in the competition, Persik Kediri, suffered a 4-0 humiliation to Japan's champion Yokohama Marinos on Tuesday.

Asian Champions League

Wednesday's results: Shanghai (Chn) 0 Chonbuk Motors (Kor) 1 Jubilo Iwata (Jpn) 3 BEC Tero (Tha) 0 PSM Makassar (Ina) 2 Krung Thai (Tha) 3 Seongnam 2 (Kor) Binh Dinh (Vie) 0