A blockbuster free-kick from club captain Niweat Siriwong gave Pattaya a desperately needed victory over fellow strugglers Samut Songkhram FC at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya last Saturday evening.
With both teams finding it hard to create any clear cut chances in a tight first half, it was left to the Dolphins skipper to break the deadlock in spectacular fashion in the 54th minute as he fired in an unstoppable free-kick from all of 35 yards that threatened to break the back of the visitors’ net.
Niweat is well known for his prowess at set-pieces but this goal will surely go down as one of his finest and may prove to be one of the most important.
The win takes United level on points with third off bottom Chiangrai and just three points from escaping the relegation zone. The league now takes a short hiatus for the mid-season break and United will return to action on July 20 with an away trip to Osotspa.
Meanwhile, Chonburi FC got back to winning ways last Sunday with a 3-0 victory over 10-man BEC Tero Sasana. Ivan Boskovic, Chakrit Buathong and Anucha Kitpongsri got the goals for the Sharks who proved too strong for BEC after the visitors Vichaya Dechmitr received his marching orders from the referee.
| Thai Premier League Standings July 7 | ||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts. |
| Buriram United | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 43 |
| Muang Thong United | 18 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 41 |
| Chonburi | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 34 |
| Suphanburi | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 32 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 27 |
| Bangkok Glass | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 25 |
| Army United | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 24 |
| Songkhla United | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | -2 | 24 |
| TOT | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | -4 | 24 |
| Chainat | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 22 |
| Osotspa | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 | -4 | 22 |
| Police United | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6 | -4 | 19 |
| Bangkok United | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | -14 | 15 |
| Ratchaburi | 17 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -7 | 13 |
| Samut Songkhram | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -10 | 12 |
| Chiangrai United | 17 | 1 | 7 | 9 | -11 | 10 |
| Pattaya United | 17 | 3 | 1 | 13 | -21 | 10 |
| Sisaket | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| Results: Chainat PSTP Sisaket, Ratchaburi 2 – 3 Osotspa, Pattaya United 1 – 0 Samut Songkhram, Bangkok United 0 – 0 Police United, TOT 1 – 0 Chiangrai United, Suphanburi 1 – 2 Buriram United, Bangkok Glass 1 – 0 Songkhla United, Chonburi 3 – 0 BEC Tero Sasana. | ||||||
