Pattaya United’s run of three successive victories was brought to a crashing halt last weekend when they came up against a rampant Bangkok Glass team at the Leo Stadium in Pathum Thani.
The Glass Rabbits are flying high this season and it only took them only 5 minutes on Saturday to open the scoring against United, when Glass skipper Teeratep Winothai latched onto a cross from Michelini to volley the ball past United keeper Kang Bong-jun.
Pattaya United’s Kriangkhai Pimrat (left) battles for the ball with Bangkok Glass midfielder Peerapong Pichitchotirat during their Thai Premier League fixture at the Leo Stadium in Bangkok, Saturday, Sept. 14. (Photo courtesy Pattaya United FC)
The home team would go on to double their advantage just 4 minutes later, with Michelini once again playing the role of provider. The Frenchman’s cross was cleverly played into the path of Namibian striker Lazarus Kaimbi and he made no mistake from close range to put Glass 2 goals up.
Pattaya barely got out of first gear in the opening half and they could have gone further behind but for some smart goalkeeping by Kang to deny Tamaphan, and Winothai then lost his footing when put clean through on goal.
After Kaimbi had squandered another golden chance at the start of the second half, Glass effectively put the game out of reach in the 51st minute when Kaikaew volleyed home from 10 yards out.
With the match entering its final minutes, some slack marking in the home defence allowed Efe Obode to pull a goal back for Pattaya but it proved to be scant consolation as with virtually the last kick of the game Korakod restored Glass’s three goal advantage, scoring directly from a free-kick out on the right hand touchline.
United were left thankful that Chaingrai suffered another defeat last weekend to leave them trailing Pattaya by 6 points with 2 games in hand as the fight to stave off relegation reaches its climax.
Pattaya United next take to the field on Sunday, September 22 at home against Chainat. Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 6 p.m.
| Thai Premier League Standings – Sept. 15 | ||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts. |
| Buriram United | 26 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 64 |
| Muang Thong United | 26 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 23 | 59 |
| Chonburi | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 50 |
| Suphanburi | 27 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 45 |
| Bangkok Glass | 27 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 43 |
| Army United | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 42 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 38 |
| Osotspa | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 37 |
| Police United | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 33 |
| Chainat | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 31 |
| Songkhla United | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | -12 | 27 |
| Bangkok United | 27 | 7 | 6 | 14 | -19 | 27 |
| TOT | 27 | 6 | 7 | 14 | -22 | 25 |
| Ratchaburi | 27 | 5 | 9 | 13 | -8 | 24 |
| Samut Songkhram | 25 | 5 | 8 | 12 | -14 | 23 |
| Pattaya United | 27 | 7 | 1 | 19 | -25 | 22 |
| Chiangrai United | 25 | 2 | 10 | 13 | -19 | 16 |
| Sisaket | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Results: Bangkok Glass 4 – 1 Pattaya United, Buriram United 2 – 0 BEC Tero Sasana, Muang Thong United 2 – 1 TOT, Chiangrai United 0 – 3 Osotspa, Police United 0 – 1 Samut Songkhram, Suphanburi 3 – 0 Bangkok United, Songkhla United 1 – 2 Army United, Chainat 2 – 0 Ratchaburi | ||||||
