Pattaya United secured a well deserved share of the spoils after holding defending champions Buriram United to a 1-1 draw at the I-Mobile Stadium in Buriram on Wednesday, June 13.
Pattaya took the lead in the match on 23 minutes when Korean Kim Doo Yong received a pass on the right hand edge of the Buriram penalty area and held off two defenders before calmly steering a shot into the far corner of the net.
Pattaya United and Buriram fight to a 1-1 draw at the I-Mobile Stadium in Buriram on Wednesday, June 13. (Photo/Pattaya United)
Having more than held their own in the first half, Pattaya came under considerable pressure after the break as the hosts strove to get back on level terms. Shots rained down on the Dolphins’ goal while at the other end of the field Paul Ekollo fired over the bar when he seemed well placed to double Pattaya’s advantage.
Just when it looked like United might hold out for an improbable victory, they conceded a free-kick on the edge of their own area and the quick thinking Boonmathan fired the ball over the wall and into the net while the Pattaya defence was still trying to organize itself. The referee waved away protests from the Pattaya players and the scores were tied.
Both teams gave it their all in the final 10 minutes and the result could have gone either way with chances missed at either end of the pitch but there was no further scoring and Pattaya could come away happy after a strong performance at arguably the toughest fixture of the campaign.
Pattaya United are back in action again on Saturday, July 7 with another away match, this time at Insee Police United, kick-off at 6 p.m.
