http://www.pattayamail.com/current/sports.shtmlPattaya United secured a hard fought 1-0 win against TOT Cat FC at a revamped Nongprue stadium last Saturday in a match that suffered a 15 minute second half interruption caused by a floodlight failure.United began the game in bright fashion (to pardon the pun) and it wasn’t long before Theerawesin Seehawong tested the reflexes of TOT’s Cameroonian goalkeeper Jean-Marc Engoulou. The United midfielder picked up the ball in center field and unleashed a 25 yard dipping shot that Engoulou acrobatically tipped over the bar.
TOT, despite wallowing in mid-table in the league, were not just there to make up the numbers however and they created two good opportunities of their own with long range efforts from Slovakian Tomแ? Kozแr and Georgian Georgi Tsimakuridze going just wide of the Pattaya goal.
Spurred on by a vocal home support, Pattaya had one further chance in a competitive first half when Somchai Singmanee fired in a 30 yard screamer that grazed the TOT crossbar.
In the second half it was the visitors who started the stronger with Wichan Nantasri forcing a great diving save from Narit in the 52nd minute. However it would be left to the home team to break the deadlock just 3 minutes later through top scorer Ludovick. The Cameroon striker picked up the ball on the left wing and sent over a pinpoint crossfield ball to Singmanee whose cross was met by the head of United’s Patipol Phetwiset. The TOT keeper somehow managed to block Phetwiset’s initial effort but Ludovick was lurking close by to turn in the rebound.
In what was becoming an open second half, TOT center half Mariแn Juhแs saw his point-blank header from a corner kick blocked on the line by Pattaya defenders on the hour mark and at the other end Ludovick spurned a golden chance to double United’s and his own goal tally when he blasted over from 10 yards out with just the TOT keeper to beat.
There then followed a 15 minute delay as a transformer feeding power to the stadium blew and the ground was pitched into darkness. When the electricity was eventually restored both teams decided to make substitutions and brought off Tomแ? Kozแr and Wutthisak Maneesook who had been waging a running battle with each other prior to the unscheduled delay. Pattaya replaced Maneesook with striker Tana Chanabut who was making his first appearance since injuring his hand against Sisaket FC three weeks ago.
Chanabut’s appearance certainly had the effect of galvanizing the Pattaya forward line and he came close to getting on the score sheet himself on 77 minutes when he played a clever one-two with Ludovick but he volleyed the return straight at the TOT keeper.
The visitors had the last clear cut chance of the game on 80 minutes when midfielder Yuttana Chaikaew headed just wide of the Pattaya goal from a right wing cross. Thereafter United were able to play out the remaining 10 minutes of the match without any further serious threats to their goal.
In other matches over the weekend, Chonburi FC let slip their lead at the top of the standings with a shock one nil defeat away at Thai Army who moved off the bottom of the league on the back of their victory. Muang Thong United were the main benefactors of Chonburi’s defeat as they crushed Sisaket 6-0 to move three points clear at the top. Buriram remain the only undefeated team in the league after they scored a one nil away victory at Osotspa M-150.
Pattaya United’s next match is a local derby this coming Sunday, July 25, away at Navy Rayong FC with kick off at 5 p.m. Chonburi meanwhile play leaders Muang Thong on the same day at the Chonburi Stadium in what should be the match of the weekend.
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