Chonburi hit four past Athletic

Chonburi FC got off to an impressive start in the AFC Cup by beating Hong Kong's Eastern Athletic 4-1 at Supachalasai stadium last night.

Chonburi FC’s Pipob On-mo, No 10, fights for the ball with Machado Djair Baptista. Pipob was on target in his team’s 4-1 victory. TAWEECHAI TAWATPAKORN

Goals from Kraisorn Pancharoen, Pipob On-mo, Panuwat Jinta and Yang Xu (og) gave the Thai team a comfortable win.

Wong Chun Yue scored the consolation goal for the visitors in their opening Group G game.

Chonburi, coached by former Thailand international Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang, were off to a fast start and got their first goal after just eight minutes.

Ekaphan Inthasen swung in a cross from the right and Eastern Athletic goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai failed to keep hold ofit. Kraison then slotted the ball home from close range.

Yang Xu sent the ball into his own net to give the home side at 2-0 lead on the stroke of half-time.

The Hong Kong team regrouped in the second half and pulled a goal back through Wong Chun Yue after 54 minutes.

But the Sharks were quick to restore their two-goal advantage when Pipob made it 3-1 two minutes later. Panuwat put the match beyond doubt in the 76th minute.

Kiatisak said his men were determined to win and they proved they could score goals after struggling to find the net in the Thai Premier League at the weekend.

Chonburi will next play Kedah in Malaysia on March 17. The Malaysian side lost 3-1 to Hanoi ACB in Vietnam in the other Group G game last night.