Pattaya United, the Loma Dolphins, got their Toyota Thai Premier League season off to a perfect start with a confidence boosting 2-0 away win at Samut Songkhram FC on Saturday, March 2.
Captained by Niweat Siriwong, the Dolphins took the game to their opponents from the opening whistle and after coming close on several occasions, they finally took a deserved lead in the 37th minute when Patawee Jiraburanakit latched onto a deflected shot from Anuwat Inyin to head over the Songkhram keeper Lucas Daniel and into the net.
Jung Ji-Soo celebrates scoring for Pattaya United against Samut Songkhram FC during their opening Thai Premier League match, Saturday, March 2.
The score remained 1-0 until half-time and after the break the home team came out in more determined mood and laid siege to the Pattaya goal for the first 15 minutes of the second period. United had keeper Kung Bong-Jun to thank for producing a tremendous save to prevent Saengsee from equalizing for the home team and at the other end of the field Pattaya midfielder Sutthisa saw a good effort denied by Daniel.
Entering the last 5 minutes of the match, Songkhram made a final determined effort and they went close when Buaphetch fired the ball into the side netting. United broke quickly on the counter attack and Kamruen’s clever pass found Jung Ji-Soo in space, with the Korean forward able to calmly slot the ball home to secure all 3 points for Pattaya.
United’s next league match is on Sunday, March 10 against Osotspa M-150 at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Around the grounds last weekend, there were wins for defending champions Muang Thong United, Police FC, Songkhla United and TOT. Chonburi ‘Sharks’ meanwhile were held to a 2-2 draw away at BEC Tero Sasana.
| Thai Premier League 2013 Standings | ||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts. |
| TOT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Pattaya United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Muang Thong United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Police United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Songkhla United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| BEC Tero Sasana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Chonburi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| *Top 7 teams shown only* | ||||||||
| Results: BEC Tero Sasana 2 – 2 Chonburi, Osotspa 0 – 0 Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram 0 – 2 Pattaya United, Muang Thong United 2 – 1 Army United, Police United 1 – 0 Bangkok United, Buriram United 1 – 1 Suphanburi, Songkhla United 1 – 0 Bangkok Glass, Esan United 0 – 0 Chainat, Chiangrai United 1 – 3 TOT | ||||||||
