Pattaya United were on their travels last weekend as the ‘Dolphins’ made the short trip south to take on PTT Rayong in a qualifying round of the 2011 Toyota Cup.
Despite currently sitting in fifth place in the first division, PTT competed fiercely for every ball against their Premier League opposition and following a goalless first half it was the hosts who took the lead when Dolphins goalkeeper Vichan Pridaboon made a hash of a shot from Nares Kapkaikaew, allowing it to slip past him and into the net to put Rayong one up in the 52nd minute.
Ludovick Takam, center, shields the ball from a PTT Rayong defender during their Toyota Cup match in Rayong, Saturday, July 2. (Photo/Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
United put their opponents under pressure for the remainder of the half but it wasn’t until the 78th minute that they were able to garner an equalizer when Sompop Nilawong converted a cross from Ittiphol Pulsap at the far post.
At fulltime the game remained tied at one-all and so it was into a half hour of extra time to decide the winner and the luck was certainly on the side of United in the 114th minute when Petviset’s speculative shot bounced back off the Rayong crossbar straight to the feet of Dolphin’s star forward Ludovick who calmly turned the ball into the net from 5 yards out for the winning goal.
United were due to take on Supanburi at the Supanburi Sports Arena on Wednesday, July 6 in the next round of the Toyota Cup.
