Pattaya NNK United’s players appear to be setting up another dramatic end of season for their supporters. In their last campaign it was promotion as the team’s major goal – now it is a fight for survival and staying in the Thai Premier League, though the Dolphins are currently 12th in the 18 team division with still eight games remaining.
Last Saturday, August 6, the Dolphins lost 2-1 away to Super Power Samutprakan FC (formerly Osotsapa M-150). Pattaya took the lead in the 42nd minute through Wichan, who followed up smartly on a rebound and some scrappy defending to tuck the ball into the net and give his team a 1-0 halftime advantage.
The second half started frantically and Samutprakan were rewarded in the 46th minute for their positive play with an equalizer coming via a header from Solep. Pattaya held their own and gave no quarter with some tenacious play until the last 10 minutes of the game, receiving all five yellow cards in the second half and a red to Chayawat in the 84th minute.
With frustration building from some of the officials’ decisions, the Dolphins finally started to lose some discipline and suffered another setback in the 85th minute when Settanan scored the hosts’ winning goal with another decisive header.
The match showed once again that playing well and winning can be two entirely different things.
Pattaya United’s next game is at home on 13th August, hosting BEC Tero Sasana and the return of former player Milan Bubalo in another team’s colours.
