Bangkok Casuals Football League 2012
In their last match before the Christmas and the New Year break, Pattaya City played hosts to the Turkish side Anatolia in the League Cup last weekend.
City, after winning one and losing one, really needed to win this game to keep their hopes alive in the competition but they were without their leading player Earnest Dipita and it was the Turks who applied the early pressure by gaining three corners in which the City keeper had to make a good save from the last of these.
The Turks attacked in waves and the City defense was holding out until a mistake by one of their defenders saw him slice his clearance straight to unmarked Turkish forward, Freeboy, who made no mistake to give his team the lead 1-0.
This setback spurred City into action but for the most part they were restricted to taking long range pot shots on the Anatolia goal. At the other end, City’s captain Philip Walter saved a goal bound shot with a diving lunge to divert the ball past the post to keep the score 1-0 at half time.
At the start of the second half the Turks scored again but it was ruled offside to City’s great relief. A super run by Tshuma down the left then saw his centre totally wasted when the Pattaya forward mistimed his header and the chance was gone. The hosts were slowly getting on top and a shot/centre hit the Anatolia crossbar after their keeper got his finger tips to the ball. Then Emery headed wide moments later from a good cross.
The Anatolia left winger Adams was a constant thorn in City’s side and from one of his mazy runs he left a trail of City defenders in his wake before centering to Freeboy, who scored with aplomb to double the Turks lead.
City’s keeper was called into action again to thwart the visitors with two outstanding saves but Pattaya got a foothold back into the game when Tshuma’s darting run and center found the head of Emery whose bullet header gave the Turkish keeper no chance. There was to be no reprieve for the home team however as Anatolia tightened up their defense for the remainder of the game to run out 2-1 winners.
