Thai Premier League Football 2012 Season
After putting together a recent string of impressive results, Pattaya United were brought crashing back down to earth last weekend with a chastening 4-2 loss at the hands of Osotspa M-150 FC in Saraburi.
The hosts took the lead in just the 6th minute of the match through a left foot strike from the edge of the area by Japan’s Hiromichi Katano, although this was cancelled out just 12 minutes later by the Dolphins’ prolific marksman Ludovick Takam, who found space inside the Osotspa area and turned sharply to shoot low into the corner of the net.
Pattaya United striker Ludovick Takam celebrates scoring his sides first goal against Osotspa M-150 FC at the Saraburi Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 15. (Photo/Pattaya United)
The scores remained level until the hour mark when Namibian striker Lazarus Kaimbi latched onto a ball over the top of the Pattaya defence to turn his marker inside out before placing the ball into the far corner of the goal past Narit. The same player would then effectively make the game safe when he pounced on a mistake by the Pattaya defence to fire home his second goal in the space of 2 minutes.
With the Dolphin’s still reeling from Kaimbi’s double strike, his compatriot Tangeni Shipahu then ghosted into the area almost immediately from the restart to add a fourth as he headed the ball over Narit.
The 10 minute spell of madness wasn’t over yet however, as Pattaya went straight up the other end of the pitch and pulled a goal back on 69 minutes through Ludovick’s second strike of the match. The striker then turned creator as his clever back-heel put O.J. Obatola through on goal but the Dolphin’s frontman could only fire the ball straight at the keeper from 5 yards out.
Pattaya were unable to create any further clear openings as the clock ticked down and the game ended 4-2 in favour of the hosts.
United’s next Premier League fixture is this coming Saturday, Sept. 22 against struggling BBCU at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
At the top of the table, unbeaten Muang Thong United continued their relentless pursuit of the title with a 2-1 away win at Army while nearest rivals Chonburi’s game against Wuachon was postponed.
Thai Premier League Results & Standings (Sept. 16)
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| Muang Thong United | 27 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 34 | 67 |
| Chonburi | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 54 |
| Buriram United | 27 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 21 | 49 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 27 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 43 |
| Bangkok Glass | 27 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 39 |
| Army United | 27 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 38 |
| Esan United | 27 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 37 |
| Osotspa | 27 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 37 |
| TOT | 27 | 8 | 10 | 9 | -1 | 34 |
| Chiangrai United | 27 | 7 | 11 | 9 | -7 | 32 |
| Samut Songkhram | 27 | 8 | 7 | 12 | -7 | 31 |
| Pattaya United | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | -6 | 30 |
| Wuachon United | 26 | 6 | 12 | 8 | -5 | 30 |
| Chainat | 27 | 5 | 12 | 10 | -15 | 27 |
| Police United | 26 | 5 | 10 | 11 | -8 | 25 |
| Thai Port | 27 | 5 | 9 | 13 | -19 | 24 |
| BBCU | 27 | 4 | 11 | 12 | -15 | 23 |
| TTM Chiangmai | 27 | 2 | 11 | 14 | -18 | 17 |
| Results: (Sat. 15/09) Wuachon United P – P Chonburi; Bangkok Glass 1 – 1 BEC Tero Sasana; BBCU 1 – 1 Police United; Osotspa 4 – 2 Pattaya United; (Sun. 16/09) Army United 1 – 2 Muang Thong United; Chainat 1 – 1 Samut Songkhram; TOT 1 – 0 TTM Chiangmai; Esan United 3 – 3 Chiangrai United; Buriram United 1 – 0 Thai Port. | ||||||
