Akarawin catapults Beetles to 2nd place

Chiang Rai’s Akarawin Sawasdee, right, scores against Police Tero.

Caretaker coach Alongkorn Thongum got off to a winning start when champions Chiang Rai United won 1-0 at Police Tero in Thai League 1 last night.

Alongkorn was named acting coach of the Beetles this week after the departure of Japan’s Masami Taki whose contract expired at the end of last month.

Akarawin Sawasdee’s strike in the 43rd minute settled the tie at Bangkok’s Boonyachainda Stadium.

Chiang Rai, whose strike force was led by Jakson Coelho, were the better side for long periods.

The game was halted for several minutes due to floodlight failure with 10 minutes to go.

Chiang Rai moved up from third to second on 23 points, one ahead of Port and six behind runaway leaders BG Pathum United.

Police Tero have now gone seven games without a…