Bangkok, May 17:

A makeshift Thailand Premier League XI beat an experimental Manchester City team 3-1 in a friendly match on Saturday.

The City team, touring Thailand to capitalise on interest created by the English club’s takeover by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was without most of its regular players, with Martin Petrov, Darius Vassell, Dietmar Hamann and Geovanni the only regular first teamers in the starting lineup.

The match attracted an estimated crowd of 25,000, only half filling Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, with the match played at dusk, avoiding a clash with the English FA Cup final.

Manchester City, fielding Thai players Suree Sukha, Teerasil Dangda and Kiatprawut Saiwaew who have not seen first team action since joining the club in the Thaksin takeover, took the lead in the 22nd minute through Ecuadorean striker Felipe Caicedo.

The Thai selection, which was missing several players who were representing their universities in a conflicting match as well as the three Thais on the opposite team, equalised in the 37th minute through Brazilian forward Ney Fabiano, who represents Asian Champions League contestant Chonburi.

Veteran midfielder Tawan Sripan, of BEC Tero Sasana, put the Thai team ahead in the 44th minute. Lax marking from a freekick saw substitute Tana Chanabat head home the third goal in the 73rd minute.