Following two successive home wins, Pattaya United took to the road for the first time this season to take on Bangkok Glass in the Leo Stadium in Bangkok last weekend.
In an entertaining opining 45 minutes both teams had chances to go in front, with Dolphin forwards Ekollo and Obatola causing problems for the home defence, however it was the hosts who took the lead on the stroke of half time when French midfielder Flavien Michelini volleyed in superbly from the edge of the area to give Narit no chance in the Pattaya goal.
Pattaya United’s Anuwat Inyin (2nd left) fires in a shot during the second half of the Thai Premier League match against Bangkok Glass FC at the Leo Stadium in Bangkok, Sunday, April 1. (Photo/Ariyawat Nuamsawat/Pattaya United FC)
The second period had a bit of everything; chances at both ends, two red cards and some last minute drama throw in. Bangkok Glass thought they had sealed the points on two separate occasions but each time the goal was ruled out for an infringement, sparking scenes of fury on the terraces and protests on the home bench. As tempers began to boil over, United’s Keisuke Ogawa clashed with Bangkok forward Winothai and both players received their marching orders from the referee.
With the action unrelenting and tempers running hot on both teams, it was almost inevitable that we would have some drama at the death, and so it proved. With just seconds of the match remaining a scramble in the Bangkok Glass penalty area saw the ball fall to the feet of United’s Kim Do-Yeon who calmly dispatched it into the bottom corner of the net to set off scenes of joy from the Dolphin supporters amassed at one end of the stadium and yet more protests from the home players and officials.
The goal maintained United’s unbeaten start to the season and the point gained allowed them to hold onto fourth spot in the standings, just one point behind defending champions and current league leaders Buriram United.
Pattaya United’s next fixture is on Sunday, April 8 against Chainat FC at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Thai Premier League Standings April 1
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts. |
| 1 | Buriram United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 | Muang Thong United | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| 3 | Army United | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | Pattaya United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Bangkok Glass | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | BEC Tero Sasana | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Osotspa M-150 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 6 |
| 8 | Chonburi F.C. | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 9 | Samut Songkram F.C. | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 10 | Wuachon United | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 5 |
| 11 | Chiang Rai United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| 12 | Police United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| 13 | BBCU FC | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 4 |
| 14 | Chainat FC | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | TTM Chiangmai | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 16 | Esan United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 17 | TOT SC | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 2 |
| 18 | Thai Port | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -10 | 0 |
| Results: (Sat 31/03/12) Thai Port 0 – 1 Police United; Buriram United 4 – 2 Osotspa; BBCU 1 – 1 Army United; TOT 1 – 1 Chonburi; (Sun 01/04/12) Esan United 1 – 2 Wuachon United; BEC Tero Sasana 3 – 2 Chiangrai United; Chainat 4 – 4 Muang Thong United; Bangkok Glass 1 – 1 Pattaya United; Samut Songkhram 0 – 0 TTM Chiangmai | |||||||
