Nakhon Ratchasima FC vs Port FC Match Recap - Oct 18, 2025

Port FC’s Second-Half Surge Sinks Nakhon Ratchasima, Elevates Lions in Tight Thai League 1 Race

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand — There was a moment midway through the second half, with the stadium bathed in the late October haze, when Port FC seized the pulse of a season tilting in the balance. What began as a measured, tense affair at His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium quickly turned decisive in a five-minute spell after halftime, as Port’s S. Bureerat and B. Perea struck in swift succession to dispatch Nakhon Ratchasima FC, 2-0, and vault the Lions into the Thai League 1’s upper reaches.

For Nakhon Ratchasima, a side searching for a new identity as autumn descends, it was another dispiriting afternoon, one that underscored both their attacking troubles and the fine margins separating potential from reality. They remain mired in 12th place on seven points, a solitary win to show for seven tries, and now find themselves glancing uneasily over their shoulders at the relegation quicksand below.

The tone was set early: cautious, each side probing for weakness but unwilling to risk exposure. It was, for forty-five minutes, a contest defined more by intent than incision. Nakhon Ratchasima, keenly aware of their recent defensive frailties—having conceded three to Bangkok United and twice to Ratchaburi in the past month—sat deep, compact, their midfield lines knitted tight. Port, meanwhile, looked to carry forward the momentum of their breathtaking 8-0 demolition of Kanchanaburi, their movement brisk but frustration mounting as half-chances drifted wide.

If the first half was an exercise in patience, the opening minutes after the break redefined the match. In the 51st minute, Port forced the issue. A quick interchange on the right flank saw the ball worked into the feet of S. Bureerat, who curled a deft shot around the outstretched arms of the home goalkeeper. The away section, traveling in strong voice, erupted: it was Bureerat’s second goal in as many games—a man in form at precisely the moment Port needed him.

Nakhon Ratchasima looked rattled, their composure evaporating amid Port’s sudden surge of confidence. Five minutes later, the Lions doubled their lead. This time it was B. Perea, ghosting between defenders, who met a fizzed cross with an emphatic finish. Perea, whose earlier endeavors had been stymied by resolute defending, found a sliver of space; the quality of the delivery deserved the finish, and the scoreboard told the tale: 2-0, and little hope of reprieve for the Swat Cats.

The goals transformed the rhythm of the contest. Port, perhaps recalling the sting of recent setbacks—including a 2-1 home loss to KMKM in continental play and a frustrating defeat at Bangkok Glass—shifted into game management mode, compressing space, dictating tempo. Nakhon Ratchasima, for their part, pressed with rising urgency but met an organized, disciplined Port back line. If an equalizer seemed unlikely, a comeback felt almost out of reach, the hosts’ efforts blunted by a lack of cutting edge and a mounting sense of inevitability.

This defeat marks the Swat Cats’ fourth straight league match without victory, following a 1-3 stumble at Bangkok United and a string of hard-earned draws. They have not won since August; in that span, goals have been precious, confidence more so. Today’s result was a mirror to their recent struggles—a side capable of staying competitive but unable to convert grit into points.

For Port FC, the win is a statement of resurgence. Their season, a patchwork of impressive highs and frustrating lows, now gathers fresh momentum. After a stuttering start to the campaign, marked by three defeats, the Lions have now notched back-to-back league wins, moving to 10 points and climbing to sixth in the table. The manner of the performance—disciplined, clinical, composed under pressure—signals a side reconnecting with its ambitions.

The history between these rivals has often been balanced, each meeting a microcosm of the league’s tightly packed middle. Yet today’s encounter tilted decisively in Port’s favor, the visitors showing a clinical edge that their hosts simply could not match. No red cards marred the afternoon; the contest was played with controlled intensity, befitting two sides acutely aware of what was at stake.

As the shadows lengthened across the stadium, the realities of the league table sharpened into focus. For Nakhon Ratchasima, the next fixtures take on added urgency: seven points from seven is a precarious yield. They must rediscover their attacking spark, and quickly, or risk being drawn into a relegation battle few had anticipated. Port, meanwhile, will carry renewed optimism into the coming weeks—a club with pedigree, now with momentum, seeking to close the gap on leaders above.

In the end, it was Port’s five minutes of brilliance that made all the difference—reminding both the rest of Thai League 1, and themselves, that in a season defined by parity, seizing the moment is often enough to tilt the entire campaign.