On an emotional evening, the veteran midfielder capped his farewell match by coming off the bench to bring his side back on level terms just as it looked like Thammasat were heading for a defeat.

Each side fielded their strongest eleven, featuring a host of national players from both the Asean Football Championship squad, who are scheduled to visit Vietnam in the first tie of home-and-away semi-finals on Wednesday, and the Pre-Olympic team.

Eager to stamp their authority over their bitter rivals for the second successive time following a 2-0 win last year, Chula took the game to their opposition camp from the opening whistle. They got the first sight of the goal in the 10th minute, when Piyachat Thamapan, one of the two Pre-Olympic players in the team - the other being Adisak Duangsri - dispatched a well-taken shot from the edge of the penalty area high over the bar. Eight minutes later, Chula again came close to opening the scoring when Kittiphol Paphunga sent in a corner for Narat Muninnoppa-mart, who sent a powerful header just inches wide.

Shortly afterwards, Kittiphol finally broke down Thammasat's resistance with a classy goal. The diminutive midfielder took a killer pass from the right flank just inside the box before calmly placing his shot past the hapless Thammasat keeper into the back of the net, leading the Chula stand to explode in wild celebration.

Thammasat tried to respond but Chachrit Buathong's 20-yard shot fizzled over the crossbar. The play then swiftly swung to the other end as Prasit Thaodee nearly put the Chula side further ahead only to see his long-range effort tipped over the bar by the goalie.

Chula had another chance with a 30-yard shot by Kittiphol but had to be content with a 1-0 half-time lead.

Thammasat were a different proposition after the restart and put their opponents under heavy pressure for a large period of the second half before claiming their deserved equaliser with Tawatchai's penalty kick to share the honours this year.