Thai Premier League Football 2012 Season
Pattaya United’s hopes of a top 6 finish took a severe dent last weekend when they were on the receiving end of a second half fight-back from TOT FC that saw the visitors run out 3-1 winners at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya.
United took the lead on the 20 minute mark with top scorer Ludovick Takam once more showing his prowess in front of goal as he cleverly turned his marker to fire a low shot into the far corner of the net.
The Dolphins should have pushed on from this promising start, however their attack began to falter and they allowed the visitors to gain in confidence, culminating in an equalizing goal after 68 minutes when midfielder Nanthasri got free in the Pattaya area to power a header past goalkeeper Narit.
Pattaya United’s Keisuke Ogawa, right, battles for the ball with a TOT defender during their Thai premier league match at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Saturday, Oct. 6. (Photo/Pattaya United)
If the writing wasn’t already on the wall for United it certainly was 2 minutes later as Rithiphan broke through the Pattaya back line to stroke the ball past Narit and give his team a 2-1 lead.
TOT were reduced to 10 soon after as Mohamed was sent off for dissent, but the tide of the match had already turned in TOT’s favour and they went on to add a third goal in injury time as Rithiphan dribbled through the Pattaya defenders to bag his second of the match.
The Dolphins are now left looking once more over their collective shoulder as the teams battling relegation seek to close the 6 point gap. Indeed, just 10 points now separates 11 teams from sixth to sixteenth positions. United were due make an away trip to Chainat FC this past midweek and will be back in league action this coming Sunday, Oct. 14 with a home fixture against Bangkok Glass. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Thai Premier League Results & Standings (Sept. 30)
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| Muang Thong United | 29 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 38 | 73 |
| Chonburi | 28 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 60 |
| Buriram United | 30 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 50 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 47 |
| TOT | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 41 |
| Esan United | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | -2 | 40 |
| Bangkok Glass | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 40 |
| Wuachon United | 29 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 39 |
| Army United | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | -3 | 39 |
| Chiangrai United | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | -6 | 38 |
| Samut Songkhram | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | -5 | 38 |
| Osotspa | 29 | 11 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 37 |
| Pattaya United | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | -6 | 36 |
| Police United | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | -6 | 32 |
| Chainat | 30 | 6 | 12 | 12 | -17 | 30 |
| Thai Port | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | -15 | 30 |
| BBCU | 29 | 4 | 11 | 14 | -20 | 23 |
| TTM Chiangmai | 30 | 2 | 12 | 16 | -22 | 18 |
| Results: TTM Chiangmai 2 – 5 Thai Port; Pattaya United 1 – 3 TOT; Chonburi 4 – 1 BBCU; Muang Thong United 3 – 0 Esan United; Samut Songkhram 1 – 1 BEC Tero Sasana; Army United 3 – 3 Buriram United; Wuachon United 3 – 0 Osotspa; Police United 4 – 2 Chainat; Chiangrai United 1 – 0 Bangkok Glass | ||||||
