Port, Ratchaburi lock horns for title

Port, Ratchaburi lock horns for title

Fifa president Infantino to attend FA Cup, sign World Cup bid MoU with Asean nations on Saturday

Ratchaburi manager Robert Procuerer (front second left) and Port assistant coach Sarawut Treephan (front second right) pose with the FA Cup trophy.
Ratchaburi manager Robert Procuerer (front second left) and Port assistant coach Sarawut Treephan (front second right) pose with the FA Cup trophy.

The curtain falls on the 2019 season in Thailand tonight when Port and Ratchaburi battle it out for the FA Cup title.

The title showdown will kick off at 7pm at BG Pathum United's home ground.

While Port have actually lifted the trophy once in their history in 2009, Ratchaburi were declared joint winners with three other clubs -- Chainat, Chonburi and Sukhothai -- in 2016 when the tournament was called off following the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.

The winners in tonight's showdown will earn a place in the qualifying play-offs of the 2020 AFC Champions League.

Ratchaburi manager Robert Procuerer is expecting Port to put up a strong challenge for the FA Cup title.

"Port may have some advantage on our team and they are a very strong team anyway," said Procuerer.

"They missed the chance to win the Thai League 1 title, so they will be eager to end the year with this trophy.

"Of course, they have a better team than us but we also want this trophy as a present to our fans.

"We will be playing without any pressure but it will still be a challenging outing for us.

"We have a good record against the big teams in this tournament. I think they [Port] will be under more pressure than our team."

Ratchaburi skipper Philip Roller said: "We are feeling quite confident ahead of the final. The fact that Port are desperate for this trophy makes us feel relaxed."

Port assistant coach Sarawut Treephan said his men were ready to "go for their dream".

"This will be our last game of the season and we are ready to do what needs to be done," added Sarawut.

"We have been waiting for this trophy for 10 years, so hopefully our long wait will end in this game. All players are looking forward to the match.

"I agree that there will be pressure on us, but we have told the players to embrace it because every team has to deal with it in every match."

Port captain David Rochela said: "We have reached the final by beating teams like [last year's champions] Chiang Rai United and SCG Muang Thong United, so our confidence is high.

"We are ready for the final but we expect a tough game with Ratchaburi."

Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang confirmed that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used in the FA Cup final for the first time in the history of the tournament.

"We are very proud that we are the first Asean country to start using VAR and the technology will also be used in Thai League 1, starting next year," said Somyot.

The FAT chief also confirmed that Fifa president Gianni Infantino will attend the FA Cup final, winners of which will also receive a cash incentive of five million baht.

"Fifa president Gianni Infantino will attend and present the trophy to the winners of the match.

"During the [ongoing] Asean Summit, the Fifa president will sign an MoU with Asean nations, supporting their planned joint bid to host the Fifa World Cup."

Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam have agreed to make a joint bid to organise the 2034 Fifa World Cup.

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