Buriram edge United in top of the table clash

The big match of the Sponsor Thai Premier League last weekend took place at the Institute for Physical Education Stadium in Chonburi on Saturday when fourth placed and unbeaten Pattaya United took on the in-form league leaders Buriram PEA FC.

United were dealt a blow prior to the kick off when star striker Ludowick Takam was ruled out from taking any part in the game through injury, while Buriram were able to welcome back Cameroon midfielder Frank Ohandza to their ranks after a period out with illness.

Pattaya United’s Keisuke Ogawa, right, evades the challenge of a Buriram defender during their teams’ Thai Premier League game in Chonburi, Saturday, March 26. (Photo/Ariyawat Nuamsawat)

There was a lively start to the match and United fired in the first real shot in anger in the 9th minute when Somchai Singmanee laid the ball off to Ithipol Poonsap whose fierce drive was well kept out by Tessungnoen in the Buriram goal.

Two minutes later the visitors had an attack of their own that ended with Kaewprom’s snap shot forcing Narit into a smart save.

As the half progressed it was the visitors who gradually began to gain control of the midfield and United were fortunate not to fall behind when Buriram’s Frank Opoku had two great chances to put his team ahead, but he fluffed his lines on both occasions.

Having squandered the better of the chances, Buriram would have been the more disappointed of the two teams to go in at the break on level terms, but the visitors came out in determined mood at the start of the second half and they came agonizingly close to taking the lead when Ohandza charged into the Pattaya box in the 50th minute only to see his shot amazingly clear the top of the woodwork.

United were having a hard time breaking down the tough Buriram defence and were for the most part left to take long range shots at goal.

With the clock ticking down and only 10 minutes to go it seemed that a goalless stalemate was on the cards, but Ohandza was to atone for his earlier miss by latching onto a through ball from Sarif Sainui to dispatch a shot past Narit and give Buriram a one goal lead.

United tried manfully to work a way back into the match but without the talismanic Ludovick up front they lacked a cutting edge and indeed it was Buriram who came closest to scoring again when substitute Kewsombat fired over the bar in injury time with the United goal at his mercy.

United’s Anuwat Inyin (19) is surrounded by Buriram players as the league leaders piled on the pressure during the second half of last Saturday’s game. (Photo/Ariyawat Nuamsawat)

It was a disappointing loss for the Pattaya team but they will take solace from the fact that they were forced to take on the league’s current best form team without their number one striker.

United will be eyeing the Ludovick injury situation closely as they face a long trip to Pichit FC on Sunday for their next Premier League game.

While United were suffering defeat at the hands of Buriram, close neighbours Sri Racha FC were also on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline as they were beaten away at BEC Tero Sasana.  The only goal of the game came through Ronnachai Rangsiyo in the sixth minute.

Last Sunday, Chonburi FC bounced back from the mauling by Buriram the previous week to record a come from behind 2-1 victory over TTM Pichit at the Chonburi Stadium.

After the visitors had taken a shock lead in the 12th minute through Thanat Wongsupaluck, the ‘Sharks’ struck back with strikes from Pipob-On-mo and Natthaphong Samana to record an important win that lifts them up to second place in the league standings.