Pattaya United’s season reached crisis point last weekend when they were beaten 3-1 Sunday night in their Premier League fixture against Songkhla United (formerly Buriram FC) at the Tinsulanon Stadium.
Songkhla went 1-0 up in the first half through a superb 25-yard effort from midfielder Manop Sornkaew but the lead was cancelled out before the break by Pattaya’s Rodion Dyachenko, whose charging run ended with a shot that the Songkhla keeper could only parry into the back of the net.
Things began to unravel for Pattaya in the second half of the game when Cameroon striker Elvis Job restored the home team’s advantage, tapping the ball home from close range, then Brazilain winger Aron da Silva scored the goal of the game, cutting in from the right flank before unleashing an unstoppable shot past the Pattaya keeper.
Pattaya United’s Wasan Thanapat (left) challenges for the ball with Songkhla United’s Daiki Higuchi during their Thai Premier League fixture at the Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla, Sunday, June 2. (Photo c/o Pattaya United/Offside)
The loss at Songkhla continued a horrific run of results for Pattaya since the start of the season (11 losses out of 13 games) and with Sisaket already virtually condemned to the second division due to financial irregularities, the fight is now on to escape the two remaining relegation slots. Pattaya’s next league fixture is a home tie this coming Sunday, June 9, against league leaders Buriram United, kick-off at 6 p.m.
Buriram took over at the top of the standings in the Premier League following their 2-1 win against Ratchaburi last weekend while defending champions Muang Thong United could only draw at home to Osotspa. Muang Thong’s air of invincibility has evaporated recently with a run of poor results that look to have cost the job of head coach Slavia Jokanovic. Rumours circulating in the press suggested that Jokanovic’s position could be filled by national team coach Winfried Schaefer by the end of this week.
Chonburi FC meanwhile stayed in contact with the leaders following their thrilling 4-3 win at Chiangrai United. Chonburi host Police United this Saturday with kick-off at 6.30 p.m.
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts. |
| Buriram United | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 33 |
| Muang Thong United | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 32 |
| Chonburi | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 27 |
| Suphanburi | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 26 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 26 |
| Songkhla United | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | -2 | 21 |
| TOT | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | -1 | 20 |
| Chainat | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| Bangkok Glass | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 19 |
| Army United | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| Police United | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | -5 | 14 |
| Osotspa | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | -6 | 14 |
| Ratchaburi | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -6 | 10 |
| Samut Songkhram | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -8 | 8 |
| Chiangrai United | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -9 | 8 |
| Bangkok United | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -13 | 8 |
| Pattaya United | 13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | -17 | 6 |
| Sisaket | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| Results: Bangkok Glass 0 v 0 Suphanburi, Samut Songkhram 0 v 2 BEC Tero Sasana, Chainat 0 v 0 TOT, Police United 3 v 2 Army United, Sisaket PSTP Bangkok United, Buriram United 2 v 1 Ratchaburi, Songkhla United 3 v 1 Pattaya United, Muang Thong United 1 v 1 Osotspa, Chiangrai United 3 v 4 Chonburi. | ||||||
