Uthai Thani vs Muang Thong United

Second-tier side Uthai Thani and top-flight hard-hitters Muang Thong United go head-to-head at the Uthai Thani Province Stadium in the first round of the Thai League Cup.

Uthai Thani thoroughly outclassed lower-league outfit Phitsanulok in the previous Thai FA Cup round, claiming a 4-1 away victory to round 2021 off in style. Interestingly, since being held to a scoreless draw to Customs United in March 2021, none of Uthai Thani’s last eight competitive games have ended level (W3, L5). As 50% of those matches won/lost saw the winner on the day keep a clean sheet, scoring first could be of the utmost importance here. However, hopes of upsetting Muang Thong look rather slim, with the ‘Elephant’ going winless in their last eight competitive games on home turf (D3, L5) while failing to get on the scoresheet four times in the process.

On the other hand, Muang Thong United have experienced a slow start to the new calendar year as they turned a 1-0 half-time lead into a 1-1 draw at fellow Thai League 1 rivals Chonburi. They can at least draw confidence from going three competitive matches without losing (W1, D2 – 90mins only) since falling to a 3-1 away defeat to Bangkok United in November. Indeed, the ‘Kirins’ have struggled for form on the road, going winless in their last five competitive travels (D3, L2 – 90mins), three of which saw them fail to find the back of the net. In fact, since the start of April 2021, they have only won one of their ten away games (D4, L5).