Pattaya United slipped to their second straight Premier League loss last Saturday at the hands of BEC Tero Sasana in the Thepasadin Stadium in Bankok.
The winning goal came courtesy of a 47th minute strike from England’s Chris Brandon after United had failed to clear their lines following a penetrating run from Ekele.
United went into the match lying in mid-table with 15 points from their opening 11 matches and with little separating a whole bunch of teams above them, the Dolphins would have been hoping to secure all three points to move them up the standings.
Pattaya United’s Patipol Phetwiset, left, comes away with the ball in the first half of the match against BEC Tero Sasana at the Thepasadin Stadium in Bankok, Saturday, May 7. (Photo/Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
The hosts started the brighter of the two teams and they should have gone ahead as early as the 12th minute when Ekele had a golden chance to score but headed over the bar from point blank range.
Both sides then exchange a couple of opportunities each as the game ebbed and flowed but there was no clinical finish from either team and the game remained locked at 0-0 at the break.
Just 2 minutes after the restart the hosts took the lead when Ekele cut in from the right wing to unleash a shot that the United defence was unable to deal with and Brandon was on hand to fire in the rebound.
United sweated and toiled in a vain attempt to get back in the match but after Ludovick had missed an opportunity in the 70th minute, it was BEC who created another great scoring opportunity at the other end of the field but somehow Sritammanusarn managed to fire over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
The final whistle signaled another disappointing road trip for United who will next take on high flying Police United in Chonburi on Saturday, May 14.
Second placed Chonburi meanwhile missed an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Buriram when the ‘Sharks’ were held to a 0-0 draw by Police. Buriram also drew surprisingly at Pichit so it remains unchanged at the top.
There was better news for the region’s local teams when Sri Racha finally got their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Thai Port but they still remain rooted to the foot of the table.
| Thai Premier League Standings (May 8) | |||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts. |
| Buriram PEA | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 30 |
| Chonburi FC | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 9 | 27 |
| Police United | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 23 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 10 | 22 |
| Army United | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 19 |
| Muang Thong United | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 18 |
| Osotspa M-150 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 17 |
| Bangkok Glass FC | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 16 |
| Pattaya United | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 15 |
| Si Sa Ket FC | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 15 |
| Chiang Rai United | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
| SCG Samut Songkhram | 12 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| TOT SC | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 13 |
| Thai Port FC | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 12 |
| Khon Kaen FC | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 11 |
| Navy FC | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 9 |
| TTM FC Phichit | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 8 |
| Sri Racha FC | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 7 |
| Results: Army United 4, Khon Kaen FC 1; Police United 0, Chonburi FC; BEC Tero Sasana 1, Pattaya United 0; Chiang Rai United 1, Muang Thong United 0; Si Sa Ket FC 2, Bangkok Glass 0; Navy FC 2, TOT SC 0; Sri Racha FC 2, Thai Port FC 1; SCG Samut Songkhram 0, Osotspa M-150, TTM FC Phichit 0, Buriram PEA 0. | |||||||
