Thai Premier League Football 2012 Season
Pattaya United are guaranteed to be playing in the Thai Premier League next season despite losing their latest fixture 3-1 away at BEC Tero Sasana. Thai Port’s home defeat to champions Muang Thong United on Sunday meant that they joined BBCU and TTM Chaingmai as the teams certain to lose their top flight status with one match of the current season still remaining.
Pattaya knew going into the weekend that a win from either of their final two fixtures was required to ease their relegation fears, however they got off to the worst possible start at the Thephasadin Stadium in Bangkok.
Ludovick Takam (2nd left) equalizes for Pattaya United against BEC Tero Sasana at the Thephasadin Stadium in Bangkok, Sunday, Oct. 21. (Photo/Pattaya United)
Under the watchful gaze of former England manager and new club technical boss Sven-Göran Eriksson, BEC tore into the Pattaya rearguard from the kick-off and were rewarded with a goal in the 10th minute when their Japanese midfielder Yusuke Kato received the ball in space inside the Pattaya 18 yard box and calmly lofted it over the advancing Narit and into the back of the net.
It could have been so much worse for Pattaya even before half time were it not for the brilliant display from Narit, who pulled off a series of wonder saves to prevent the hosts from going further ahead.
The halftime break gave United a chance to reorganize and they came out with more positive intent in the second half and grabbed an equalizer in the 56th minute through club top scorer Ludovick Takam. After Dyachenko’s shot rebounded off the BEC post, Ludo was the first to react and fired the ball home to give the Dolphins renewed hope.
The parity between the two sides would last barely 10 minutes however as Narit conceded a penalty under pressure and Cleiton Silva converted the spot kick to give the home team the lead once more. The same player then added a third goal in the 79th minute from a Gilbert Koomson cross to complete the scoring for the day and seal maximum points for BEC.
Pattaya’s final game of the season will be on Sunday, October 28 at Samut Songkhram.
At the top end of the table, Chonburi ‘Sharks’ could only manage a 1-1 draw at home against Bangkok Glass but are certain to finish in second place in the standings for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Thai Premier League Results & Standings (Oct. 21)
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| Muang Thong United | 33 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 47 | 83 |
| Chonburi | 32 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 33 | 67 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 33 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 56 |
| Buriram United | 33 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 21 | 54 |
| Osotspa | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 46 |
| Esan United | 33 | 10 | 14 | 9 | -2 | 44 |
| Army United | 33 | 10 | 13 | 10 | -3 | 43 |
| Samut Songkhram | 33 | 11 | 10 | 12 | -4 | 43 |
| TOT | 33 | 10 | 12 | 11 | -1 | 42 |
| Bangkok Glass | 33 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 42 |
| Wuachon United | 33 | 9 | 14 | 10 | -4 | 41 |
| Chiangrai United | 33 | 10 | 11 | 12 | -8 | 41 |
| Police United | 33 | 9 | 12 | 12 | -3 | 39 |
| Pattaya United | 33 | 9 | 10 | 14 | -10 | 37 |
| Chainat | 33 | 8 | 12 | 13 | -14 | 36 |
| Thai Port | 33 | 8 | 9 | 16 | -15 | 33 |
| BBCU | 33 | 4 | 13 | 16 | -30 | 25 |
| TTM Chiangmai | 33 | 2 | 12 | 19 | -30 | 18 |
| Results: (Sun 21/10): BBCU 1 – 4 Buriram United, Osotspa 2 – 1 Esan United, Army United 2 – 1 TOT, Wuachon United 2 – 4 Chainat, Chonburi 1 – 1 Bangkok Glass, Thai Port 1 – 2 Muang Thong United, BEC Tero Sasana 3 – 1 Pattaya United, Police United 1 – 1 Samut Songkhram, Chiangrai United 3 – 2 TTM Chiangmai | ||||||
