First chance for the Blues came on four minutes. Bojinov’s flick released Petrov who stood up a cross to the far post and Vassell was just beaten to the header. From the resulting corner Bojinov’s glancing header flew over.
After 10 minutes Petrov again looked for Vassell with a chipped cross, this time the former England man looked to be pulled back by a Thai defender, no penalty given though.
A minute later City were almost a goal behind. A dubious offside wasn’t given and Chaikamdee ran clear – Kasper Schmeichel though did well to narrow the angle and the striker could only place it wide.
After 14 minutes, Petrov again started a flowing move involving Caicedo and Vassell, who’s shot drew ‘ooh’s’ from the noisy crowd.
Petrov, by far and away the stand out player, could have broken the deadlock on 18 minutes as he raced around the keeper. But a combination of a heavy first touch and difficult pitch saw the Bulgarian take it too wide before shooting at the keeper.
The Blues didn’t have to wait too much longer for the opener as Felipe Caicedo opened his first team scoring account after 22 minutes.
Once again Petrov was the architect of the move. His cross was cleverly knock-downed by Darius Vassell and the Ecuadorian proved a cool left-footed finish from 10-yards out.
The heat and humidity meant the game slowed up somewhat after the goal, but on 37 minutes the All-Star team pulled level. Brazilian striker Oliviera lifted the ball over Schmeichel from close range after he latched on to a throughball.
Then just a minute before the break the Thai All-Stars took the lead. Captain Tawan Sripan rode a challenge from Ben Mee on the edge of the box before rounding Schmeichel and tapping home from six-yards.
Sven-Goran Eriksson made four changes at the break with David Ball, Kelvin Etuhu, Sam Williamson and Kieran Trippier coming on.
City dominated the early stages of the second half with Kelvin Etuhu making a bright start down the right wing.
Just after the hour mark Trippier put in a great ball from the right for Caicedo to rise well and head the ball off the bar before it was put behind for a corner.
There were loud cheers and applause on 64 minutes as City’s three Thai players came off the bench and on to the pitch in a triple change. Teerasil Dangda took his place up front with David Ball. Suree Sukka played at right back and Kiatprawut Saiwaew came on at centre back.
On 73 minutes the home team made it 3-1 as Chanabut headed into the corner of the net from about six-yards after a free-kick from the right.
City thought they were back in it on 82 minutes but again the officials came down on the side of the hosts. Dangda met Petrov’s corner with a fine header but the referee inexplicably ruled out the goal.
The game played itself out to a satisfactory conclusion for the Thai side - but not so the Blues - losing 3-1 in Bangkok.
Afterwards, Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson told mcfc.co.uk: “It was a good game and we create many, many opportunities. We hit the bar, had a perfectly good goal disallowed, but that happens sometimes.
“I was very impressed with the young lads that are here with us from the Academy. They all did very well as did the three Thai players who came of for us.
“I feel for young Dangda who had what we thought was a good goal ruled out, but those players and the rest of the squad did well, particularly dealing with the conditions.”
