Pattaya United enjoyed a reversal of fortunes last week with 2 wins on the bounce to lift them off the foot of the Thai Division 1 standings.
A brace of first half goals by Brazilian forward Cristiano Lopes were enough to see off the challenge of TTM Customs FC at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya on Wednesday, March 26 to chalk up United’s first league victory since their Premier League win over Police United at the beginning of November last year.
Pattaya United’s Thanaphol Huangprakone (right) challenges Krabi FC’s Dutch forward Jean Black for the ball during their Thai Division 1 fixture at the Krabi Stadium, Sunday, March 30. (Photo courtesy Pattaya United FC)
United took their renewed confidence from this result into last Sunday’s on the road match against the ‘Andaman Eagles’ Krabi FC at the Krabi Stadium.
The home team had the better of the first half exchanges but they were unable to unduly trouble the resolute Pattaya defence and after the half-time break the Dolphins began to play with more freedom and were unlucky not to take the lead when club skipper Pratran Senala sent his header just inches wide off the Krabi goal in the 51st minute.
Krabi players felt aggrieved when the referee waved away their appeals for a penalty kick in the 66th minute after Diego appeared to impede Somkid in the area and things would go from bad to worse for the home team as Narakorn Khana gave Pattaya the lead just 5 minutes later.
Krabi pressed hard for an equalizer as the clock ticked towards full time but they were caught on the break deep into injury time and Cristiano Lopes pounced to score United’s second goal of the match and put the result beyond doubt.
Pattaya United have now climbed to fourteenth position in the Division 1 league table but they still trail the leaders Nakhon Ratachasima by 8 points.
Another local team, Sri Racha FC, are still looking for their first points of the season after suffering their sixth straight defeat last weekend at the hands of Ang Thong. They currently prop up the table having swapped places with Pattaya, who they play this coming Saturday in a local derby match at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
