Pattaya City were on their travels again last weekend, playing last season’s champions The Londoner in Bangkok and looking for another good victory.
City started brightly and the Londoners keeper had difficulty with a centre from Tshuma that he could only palm over the bar. City’s Ivanov then shot wide when he could have done better and when a through ball right through the heart of the Londoners defense found Earnest Dipita, his shot on the run smacked against the bar. More misfortune was to follow for City soon after when Tshuma hit the inside of the Londoner post and the ball was cleared.
Entirely against the run of play, The Londoners took the lead with a superb 35 yard shot from an acute angle that sailed into the top corner giving the City Keeper no chance. This did not deter the Pattaya team however as they mounted attack after attack, but the home side’s defense held firm till half time.
In the second period City moved up a gear but the end finish eluded them and a quick long throw by the Londoner on the break nearly paid dividends and it took a good save by the City keeper to prevent them from scoring.
It was a warning sign to City but they failed to take heed and they fell further behind when the Londoner broke again and a centre reached their unmarked forward who made no mistake with a header to make it 2-0.
City had two chances late on with only the keeper to beat but both shots were very weak and scrambled away. The final result 0f 2-0 didn’t reflect the game in which City had 70% of the possession but nothing they tried in front of goal came off. It was just one of those days.
