‘Dolphins’ defeat Chainat to pull clear of the drop

Pattaya United put clear daylight between themselves and the teams currently occupying the relegation zone with an emphatic 3-0 win over Chainat FC at the Nongprue Stadium last Sunday.

After fellow strugglers Chiang Rai had secured a surprising 4-2 away victory at BEC on Saturday, the pressure was on the teams above them to respond likewise and United did so in a style all too rarely witnessed by Dolphin fans this season.

Pattaya United’s Marian Juhas (center) climbs high above the Chainat defence to head home a corner kick and give his team a 1-0 lead in their Thai Premier League fixture at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Sunday, Sept. 22. (Photo courtesy Pattaya United FC)

The hosts opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, Slovakian centre-half Marian Juhas rising above a static Chainat defence to head in a corner kick, and the home team would double the lead before the break as Obinna Ajoku was put in the clear by Jinta Phanuwat in the 40th minute and the Nigerian striker smashed the ball into the back of the net after seeing his first effort well saved by the visiting keeper.

As the rain began to come down in torrents, the game turned more niggardly in the second half with both teams guilty of committing a series of fouls.  United eventually sealed the match and the vital three points in the 77th minute as Jira Charoernsuk rounded the Chainat keeper and coolly dispatched the ball into the far corner of the net.

United fans celebrate a vital victory for their team. (Photo courtesy Pattaya United FC)

There was still time for more drama as the visitors first had an injury time goal disallowed for offside and then saw one of their players dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The win lifts Pattaya to 13th place in the standings, their highest position in the league for some months although the teams below United all have games in hand.  With just four matches remaining, the Dolphins probably need two more wins to secure their Premier League status for next season.  The crucial match could come on Oct. 27 when United host Chiang Rai at the Nongprue Stadium.  Before then, United have a home fixture against Songkhla on Oct. 6 and then travel to face league leaders Buriram on Oct. 20.