Pattaya United came unstuck against fellow Premier League strugglers TTM Pichit at a rain soaked University of Physical Education Stadium pitch in Chonburi last Sunday.
The hosts piled on the pressure in the opening stages of the game but were unable to make any notable attempts on their opponent’s goal and Pichit began to grow in confidence as the half progressed.
The game turned on its head in the 27th minute when some calamitous defending by Pattaya led to Lee Kwang Jae finding the back of the Dolphin’s goal from 12 yards out. Pichit won a free kick 30 yards out and when the ball was swung into the box, Pattaya keeper Narit got into a hopeless tangle with his defenders and left Pichit’s Korean striker with the easiest of finishes.
Pattaya United midfielder Kritsana Taiwan (left) shields the ball from FC Pichit’s Ekkarak Thongkrit at a rain soaked Physical Education Stadium pitch in Chonburi, Sunday, Sept. 11. (Photo /Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
United tried to turn up the heat on the visitors in the second half but their forward line was misfiring and they were unable to pierce the stubborn Pichit defence.
The loss leaves United in 13th place in the league standings on 25 points with twelve games of the season remaining. The Dolphin’s next league fixture is a local derby match away to Siam Navy FC in Sattahip on Saturday, Sept. 17. Kick-off is at 6 p.m.
At the top of the table Chonburi FC kept up the pressure on runaway leaders Buriram with a hard fought 1-0 win over Siam Navy to leave them sandwiched in second place between Muang Thong and Buriram, neither of whom had fixtures last weekend.
| Thai Premier League Standings (Sept. 11) | ||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts. |
| Buriram PEA | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 50 |
| Chonburi FC | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 45 |
| Muang Thong Utd | 21 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 44 |
| Bangkok Glass FC | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 35 |
| Si Saket FC | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 35 |
| Osotspa M-150 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 33 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 32 |
| Chiangrai United | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 30 |
| Police FC | 21 | 8 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 30 |
| Thai Port FC | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | -1 | 30 |
| TTM Phichit | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | -6 | 26 |
| Army United | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 25 |
| Pattaya United | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | -3 | 25 |
| SCG Samut Songkhram | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | -8 | 24 |
| Navy FC | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | -21 | 20 |
| TOT SC | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | -21 | 19 |
| Sriracha FC | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | -13 | 18 |
| Khon Kaen FC | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | -23 | 16 |
| Results: Chiangrai United 2-1 Army United; BEC Tero Sasana 0-1 Sisaket; Police United 3-1Sriracha; Bangkok Glass 1-3 TOT; Chonburi 1-0 Siam Navy; Khon Kaen 1-2 Samut Songkhram; Thai Port 0-0 Osotspa; Pattaya United 0-1 TTM Phichit | ||||||
