Pattaya United’s recent run of good form came to a crashing halt last weekend as they suffered a 5-2 mauling on home turf at the hands of Port MTI F.C.
There were signs in the midweek goalless draw with Thai Honda that perhaps the Dolphins were in danger of losing momentum and those fears were borne out within 2 minutes of the game’s start on Sunday as Thai Port took an early lead through Josimar Rodrigues, the Brazilian rising unmarked in the United penalty area to head home a corner kick.
Almost as quickly as the game restarted United fell further behind as Todsapol Lated ghosted into the Pattaya six-yard box to meet an inswinging free-kick and nod the ball past Khammai in the United goal.
Two goals down after just 5 minutes the Dolphins faced an uphill task to get back into the game but they received a lifeline in the 27th minute when Stojanovic went down in the area under a clumsy challenge from Port’s Dolah and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Won-Youeng Lee coolly stepped up to chip the ball over Port goalkeeper Srisupha and United were briefly back in the game.
Before United’s fans had stopped celebrating their team’s goal the hosts fell two behind once more. This time the visitors’ goal was all of United’s own making as Khammai made a complete hash of catching a routine ball into the box and Lated had the simple task of tapping the ball home from 1 yard out.
Going into the halftime break 3-1 down, Dolphins coach Surapong had some harsh talking to do to rally his team and they came out with more determination in the second period. The pressure from the home side eventually paid off as they were awarded a second penalty kick in the 72nd minute. Substitute Aleksandar Jevtic calmly slotted the ball home from the spot to set up a grandstand finish to the match.
As United desperately chased an equalizer they also left gaping holes in their own defence and these were exploited ruthlessly by the visitors who put the game out of reach in the 79th minute as Josimar notched his second goal of the game with a clever left-foot chip over Khammai. Sergio Suarez then delivered the coup de grace in the final minute of normal time, bursting past 2 Pattaya defenders before applying an emphatic finish.
Pattaya United remain in eighth place in the Thai Premier League with 40 points from 29 completed fixtures. The Dolphins next game is away at Sukhothai FC on Sunday, October 1. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
