It’s neck to neck battle at the top of the Thai Premier League 2017 as champions Muangthong United and nemesis Buriram United are locked in a struggle for supremacy.
After 17 matches in the TPL this year, Muangthong are on the same 37 points with Buriram with only goal difference separating the two giants of Thai football.
And this week, Muangthong continued their march with a superb 4-2 win at home over Chiangrai United with Adisak Kraisorn after just 15 minutes before Teerathon Bunmatan then doubled the advantage just before the end of the first half.
While Rafael Coelho managed to pull a goal back for Chiangrai six minutes into the second half, red cards on Bunmatan and Chaingrai’s Vander moments later tainted the game.
However, Muangthong did not lose shape and they were soon back in action with two more goals off Ratchapol Nawanno in the 65th minute and Sanukran Thinjom (90th) with Chianrai grabbing their second in between from Piyaphon Phanichakul (84th) for the final score line.
In the meantime, Buriram kept up with the leaders when they edged Bangkok United 2-1 at home.
In total control, Buriram scored a goal in each half – Jakkaphan Kaewprom (29th) and Diogo (66th) – for the win although Mario Durovski did pull a goal back right at the end.
Elsewhere, Sukhothai beat BEC Tero Sasana 2-0, Bangkok Glass edged Nakhon Ratchasima 1-0, Ubon came away 1-0 winners on the road against Super Power FC, Suphanburi beat Navy FC 2-0 and Sisaket battling to a 2-2 draw against Port MTI FC.
Ratchaburi beat Thai Honda FC 3-2.
THAI PREMIER LEAGUE 2017 Current Standings
| No | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | SCG Muangthong United | 17 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 41 | 15 | +26 | 37 |
| 2 | Buriram United | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 16 | +24 | 37 |
| 3 | Chiangrai United | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 21 | +16 | 33 |
| 4 | Bangkok Glass | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 23 | +9 | 33 |
| 5 | Chonburi | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 31 |
| 6 | Bangkok United | 17 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 45 | 28 | +17 | 29 |
| 7 | Port | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 32 | -4 | 28 |
| 8 | Ubon UMT United | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 27 |
| 9 | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 25 | +6 | 26 |
| 10 | Police Tero | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 23 |
| 11 | Suphanburi | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 29 | -3 | 22 |
| 12 | Nakhon Ratchasima | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 20 |
| 13 | Navy | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 26 | -7 | 19 |
| 14 | Pattaya United | 17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 21 | 33 | -12 | 19 |
| 15 | Sukhothai | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 32 | -7 | 15 |
| 16 | Thai Honda Ladkrabang | 17 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 30 | -11 | 15 |
| 17 | Sisaket | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 24 | 44 | -20 | 15 |
| 18 | Super Power Samut Prakan | 17 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 13 | 52 | -39 | 1 |
