Sharks attack proves too strong for struggling Dolphins

Chonburi FC ‘Sharks’ emphatically underlined their credentials as the ‘team to beat’ on the Eastern Seaboard with a 5-1 hammering of local rivals Pattaya United at the Chonburi Stadium last Saturday, April 6.

With both teams making a somewhat lackluster start to the new Thai Premier League campaign, the derby match was viewed by both sets of fans as an ideal opportunity to kick-start the season and achieve local bragging rights into the bargain.

Pattaya United and Chonburi FC clash at the Chonburi Stadium, Saturday, April 6. (Photo/Pattaya United/Offside)

It looked as though the Sharks recent dominance in these encounters might for once be heading south as Pattaya took the lead in the 18th minute – the Chonburi defence failed to clear a left wing cross and United forward Rachata Chaichan was lurking at the far post to hammer the ball into the net.

With the gauntlet now thrown down, it didn’t take long for the home team to respond to the challenge and they restored scoreline parity just five minutes later when a cross found Adul Lahso 10 yards out from the Pattaya goal and he had the simplest of tasks to stroke the ball home.  The score would remain at 1-1 going into the break, with the game still in the balance.

In the second half Chonburi began to turn the screw on their opponents and they took the lead through club captain Pipob On-Mo, who ran half the length of the field past a static Pattaya defence to put his team 2-1 up.

Worse was to follow for Pattaya as holes began to appear alarmingly in their defensive line and Chonburi’s Brazilian import Thiago Cunha bagged a brace of goals in the 57th and 72nd minutes to put the game out of reach.  Ten minutes from time, Pipob On-Mo put the finishing touch to a slick three-man move to grab his second goal of the match and complete the second half rout, while also sealing a miserable afternoon for the travelling Dolphin supporters.

The pre-season optimism seems to have deserted Pattaya for the present time and the Songkran break may have come at an opportune moment for them to try to re-group.  Whatever changes the United management choose to implement, they will need to work fast as the Dolphins face two vital home games in quick succession following the holiday break.  On Wednesday, April 17, United face fellow strugglers Ratchaburi FC and three days later they host unbeaten league leaders Muang Thong United.