Thai Premier League Football 2012 Season
A double strike by recently returned Cameroonian forward Ludovick Takam helped the ‘Dolphins’ of Pattaya United to a much needed 4-2 victory away at fellow strugglers Thai Port FC last Saturday.
With the two teams occupying spots at the wrong end of the league table, the match took on extra significance and was a ‘must win’ encounter for both sides.
Pattaya United’s two-goal hero, Ludovick Takam. (Photo/Pattaya United)
After surviving some early pressure from the home team, United got off to the perfect start at a sparsely populated PAT Stadium by taking an 8th minute lead through midfielder Rangsarit Sutthisa, who fired in a low free-kick that the Thai Port keeper made a hash of and could only lie prostrate as the ball crept into the corner of the net.
The goalkeeper’s blushes were not yet over though as he handed United a second goal in the 26th minute when he failed to keep out a tame left foot shot from Japanese defender Keisuke Ogawa.
Ludovick struck his first goal of the match just three minutes later to effectively put the game out of reach, as he evaded the offside trap and ran through to calmly stroke the ball into the far corner of the net.
United might have been in cruise control at this stage but the home team gave themselves a lifeline just before halftime as Anusak Laosaengthai stole through the heart of the Pattaya defence to fire the ball past Narit and reduce the deficit.
After the break, United spurned some good openings to regain their three goal cushion and when Thai Port forward Kritsada Sakeaw pulled another goal back on the hour mark, the panic bells were starting to ring for the visiting ‘Dolphins.’
Have endured some disappointing results of late though, this time United were not to be denied and Ludovick showed great composure to round a defender and slot the ball home for his second goal late on to seal maximum points for the visitors. Thai Port had a couple of half chances towards the end but they were unable to convert and the match finished 4-2 in Pattaya United’s favor.
At the top of the table, Muang Thong United maintained their 10 point lead with a 2-1 win over Bangkok Glass while Chonburi FC remained their closest challengers after they put three goals past Chainart on Sunday.
Pattaya United’s next fixture is on Saturday, Sept. 8 at home to Army United at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya. Kick-off is at 6 p.m.
Thai Premier League Results & Standings (Sept. 2)
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| Muang Thong United | 25 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 31 | 61 |
| Chonburi | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 51 |
| Buriram United | 25 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 22 | 46 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 25 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 39 |
| Army United | 25 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 38 |
| Bangkok Glass | 25 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 37 |
| Esan United | 25 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 35 |
| Osotspa | 25 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 34 |
| TOT | 25 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 31 |
| Wuachon United | 25 | 6 | 12 | 7 | -3 | 30 |
| Chiangrai United | 25 | 6 | 10 | 9 | -9 | 28 |
| Pattaya United | 24 | 6 | 9 | 9 | -5 | 27 |
| Samut Songkhram | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | -11 | 27 |
| Chainat | 25 | 5 | 11 | 9 | -13 | 26 |
| Thai Port | 25 | 5 | 8 | 12 | -18 | 23 |
| BBCU | 25 | 4 | 10 | 11 | -13 | 22 |
| Police United | 24 | 4 | 9 | 11 | -9 | 21 |
| TTM Chiangmai | 25 | 2 | 10 | 13 | -17 | 16 |
| Results: (Sat 01/09/12) Thai Port 2 – 4 Pattaya United; Buriram United 1 – 0 TTM Chiangmai; Samut Songkhram 0 – 0 Chiangrai United; BEC Tero Sasana 2 – 2 Police United; (Sun 02/09/12) Bangkok Glass 1 – 2 Muang Thong United; Chainat 0 – 3 Chonburi; Wuachon United 0 – 0 TOT; Esan United 1 – 1 Army United; BBCU 0 – 0 Osotspa | ||||||
