Thai Premier Football League 2011/12
Pattaya United secured a well deserved point at Chonburi FC last Sunday to deny their local rivals a chance to go second in the league standings.
Indeed, United were unlucky not to come away from Chonburi’s home stadium with all three points after Ludovick Takam missed a golden opportunity to side-foot the ball home and put the Dolphins two goals up inside the opening half hour.
Pattaya had earlier taken the lead in spectacular fashion when O.J. Obatola ran onto a cross from Paul Ekollo in the 11th minute to rasp home a fierce left foot shot from fully 25 yards out that hit the roof of the net before the keeper could move.
Pattaya United’s O.J. Obatola (10) is surrounded by Chonburi FC defenders during the second half of their Thai Premier League match in Chonburi, Sunday, Dec. 11. (Photo/Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
Chonburi were gifted an opening back into the game just before half time when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Pattaya penalty area for what appeared like an innocuous challenge, however the Sharks weren’t about to complain and up stepped Therdsak Chaiman to chip a superb shot over the wall and into the net to equalize.
Just as Chonburi were congratulating themselves on getting back into the match, Pattaya took the lead once more in first half injury time when the Sharks failed to clear a corner kick and Seeket Maputeh’s long range shot appeared to be deflected on its way into the Chonburi net.
In the second had The Sharks pushed hard for an equalizer and they were rewarded for their efforts when Kazuto Kushida took advantage of some confusion in the United defence to smash the ball home.
Neither team was able to mount a serious threat on goal for the remainder of the half and the game finished with honours even.
With the point, United moved up to fifth place in the standings, their highest position since the beginning of the season. Their remaining three fixtures are all home matches against Chiangrai United on Dec. 17, Army United on Dec. 24 and finally against Muang Thong United on Jan. 7. Kick-off for all three fixtures is 6 p.m.
Thai Premier League Standings Dec. 11
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts. |
| 1 | Buriram PEA | 29 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 44 | 72 |
| 2 | Muang Thong United | 27 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 27 | 56 |
| 3 | Chonburi | 29 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 26 | 56 |
| 4 | Bangkok Glass | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 46 |
| 5 | Pattaya United | 31 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 44 |
| 6 | Osotspa | 29 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 43 |
| 7 | Police United | 29 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 43 |
| 8 | Chiangrai United | 31 | 11 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 42 |
| 9 | BEC Tero Sasana | 29 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 41 |
| 10 | Thai Port | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | -2 | 41 |
| 11 | Sisaket | 29 | 9 | 11 | 9 | -1 | 38 |
| 12 | Army United | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 36 |
| 13 | TTM Phichit | 29 | 9 | 6 | 14 | -16 | 33 |
| 14 | TOT | 29 | 9 | 2 | 18 | -27 | 29 |
| 15 | Samut Songkhram | 29 | 6 | 10 | 13 | -17 | 28 |
| 16 | Siam Navy | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | -25 | 26 |
| 17 | Sriracha | 28 | 5 | 8 | 15 | -13 | 23 |
| 18 | Khonkaen | 30 | 5 | 8 | 17 | -29 | 23 |
| Results: (Sat 10/12): TOT 0 v 0 Sisaket; Khonkaen 2 v 2 Muang Thong United; Sriracha 0 v 1 Buriram PEA; Samut Songkhram 2 v 3 TTM Phichit. (Sun 11/12): Chiangrai United 2 v 1 Osotspa; Police United 3 v 1 Bangkok Glass; BEC Tero Sasana 0 v 0 Thai Port; Army United 2 v 0 Siam Navy; Chonburi 2 v 2 Pattaya United. | |||||||
