Thai Premier League Football 2012 Season
Pattaya United kept alive their slim hopes of a top six finish in the league by beating struggling BBCU 2-0 at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya last Saturday.
United piled on the pressure from the opening whistle and took a deserved first half lead when midfielder Rangsarit Sutthisa fired in a superb free-kick from the edge of the area that gave the visiting goalkeeper no chance.
Pattaya United’s Sompob Nilwong, right, defends against BBCU’s Junior Guimaro during the second half of their Thai Premier League fixture at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Saturday, Sept. 22. (Photo/Pattaya United)
Against the run of play BBCU had a great chance to equalize soon after but Guinean forward Moussa Sylla headed wide of the Pattaya goal when it seemed easier to score. United continued to lay siege to the BBCU goal but were unable to extend their lead before the half-time break.
The visitors reorganized during the interval and were unlucky not to get back on equal terms early in the second half when Junior Guimaro saw his excellent free kick rebound off the Pattaya woodwork with goalkeeper Narit well beaten.
Chances continued to be created at both ends of the pitch in what was a lively and entertaining second half but when the goal eventually came it fell once more to the home team as Ludovick Takam followed up to knock home a rebound and his seventh goal since his return the Dolphins after the BBCU keeper failed to hold onto a speculative long range effort.
United struck the woodwork again before the end of the match but there was to be no further addiction to the scoring before the final whistle sounded, with the home team running out 2-0 winners.
United are looking for a good return from their final seven matches of the season to give them as high a league placing as possible. The Dolphins’ were due to take on Police United in Bangkok in a rearranged match this past Wednesday and on Sunday will travel to Esan United for another tough away fixture.
At the top of the table, Muang Thong continued their relentless procession to the league title with a 2-1 win over Osotspa while Chonburi look guaranteed to finish in second spot following their 3-1 home victory against Army United.
Thai Premier League Results & Standings (Sept. 23)
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| Muang Thong United | 28 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 35 | 70 |
| Chonburi | 27 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 26 | 57 |
| Buriram United | 28 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 49 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 43 |
| Esan United | 28 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 40 |
| Bangkok Glass | 28 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 39 |
| Army United | 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | -1 | 38 |
| Osotspa | 28 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 37 |
| TOT | 28 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 37 |
| Samut Songkhram | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | -6 | 34 |
| Pattaya United | 27 | 8 | 9 | 10 | -4 | 33 |
| Wuachon United | 27 | 7 | 12 | 8 | -4 | 33 |
| Chiangrai United | 28 | 7 | 11 | 10 | -8 | 32 |
| Chainat | 28 | 6 | 12 | 10 | -14 | 30 |
| Thai Port | 28 | 6 | 9 | 13 | -17 | 27 |
| Police United | 27 | 5 | 10 | 12 | -9 | 25 |
| BBCU | 28 | 4 | 11 | 13 | -17 | 23 |
| TTM Chiangmai | 28 | 2 | 11 | 15 | -19 | 17 |
| Results: (Sat. 22/09) Pattaya United 2 – 0 BBCU; Chonburi 3 – 1 Army United; Muang Thong United 2 – 1 Osotspa; Chiangrai United 0 – 1 TOT; (Sun. 23/09) TTM Chiangmai 2 – 3 Chainat; Samut Songkhram 3 – 2 Bangkok Glass; BEC Tero Sasana 0 – 2 Thai Port; Wuachon United 2 – 1 Buriram United; Police United 0 – 1 Esan United | ||||||
