Dolphins treble sinks Samut Songkhram

Pattaya United climbed to mid-table respectability last Sunday with a comprehensive 3-0 victory of SCG Samut Songkhram at the IPE Stadium in Chonburi.

The Dolphins opened the scoring in the first half when O.J. Obatola connected with an inswinging free-kick from the edge of the area to power a header into the Songkhram net.

United were made to fight hard by their opponents in the first half however and had to wait until the 53 minute to double their lead.  Dolphins’ striker Ludovick cut in from the left wing and held off the challenge of two defenders before crossing the ball into the center of the area where Slovakia’s Marian Juhas fired in a low shot that was deflected into the corner of the net.

Pattaya United’s Nigerian striker O.J. Obatola celebrates scoring a brace of goals against SCG Samut Songkhram at the IPE Stadium in Chonburi, Sunday, Sept. 25. (Photo/Ariyawat Nuamsawat)

Pattaya sealed the game in the 85th minute of the match when Obatola latched onto a through ball to dispatch a smart left foot finish high into the net before the Songkhram keeper could react.

United’s second win in row sees them march up the league standings into 10th position and ten points clear of the relegation zone.  The Dolphins next match is this coming Sunday, Oct. 2 against struggling Sriracha in a local derby at the Suzuki Stadium in Sriracha.  Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Sriracha had no game last weekend which means their squad should be fully rested for the clash with Pattaya with the Marlins desperate for maximum points to lift them out of the bottom three.

Chonburi FC also had no fixture last weekend, enabling Buriram PEA to extend their lead to eleven points at the top of the table with a hard fought 1-0 win away at Thai Port.