Pattaya United showed renewed fighting spirit in their comeback at the Thai Army Sports Stadium in Bangkok last Sunday, but a late goal by BBCU’s Nigerian midfielder Julius Oiboh ultimately consigned the Dolphins to their fourth consecutive league defeat since the start of the Division 1 season.
United were on the back foot early in the game against BBCU and it came as little surprise when the home team took the lead in the 28th minute; Pattaya’s Suriya Prawarana turning a cross from Oiboh into his own goal as the pressure finally told on the United defence.
Pattaya United are shown in action against BBCU FC at the Thai Army Sports Stadium in Bangkok, Sunday, March 23. (Photo/Pattaya United FC)
The score remained 1-0 until halftime and the home team were made to work hard for their second goal, which eventually came in the 74th minute as Oiboh once again caused problems for the Pattaya defence before squaring the ball to Coulibaly who calmly side-footed it home.
In previous games this season Pattaya have folded when falling two goals behind but on this occasion they staged an admirable comeback. Minutes after Coulibaly’s goal, United stuck back when Cristiano Lopes headed in from close range to reduce the deficit to 2-1, and then on 85 minutes the Dolphins remarkably pulled level as Lopes again found space in the box to head the ball wide of the BBCU keeper.
Sadly there was to be no fairytale ending to the game for Pattaya though as in the fourth minute of injury time Oiboh broke through the United defence before slotting the ball past Pattaya keeper Sankla and into the far corner of the net to make the final score 3-2 to BBCU.
Pattaya United were due to take on TTM Lopburi in midweek, hoping to finally kick-start their league campaign and get some points on the board, and this coming Sunday they will travel south to play Krabi FC at the Krabi Provincial Stadium, kick-off at 6 p.m.
