Dolphins suffer league blow with home loss to TOT

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Thai Premier League Football 2012 Season

Pattaya United’s hopes of a top 6 finish took a severe dent last weekend when they were on the receiving end of a second half fight-back from TOT FC that saw the visitors run out 3-1 winners at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya.

United took the lead on the 20 minute mark with top scorer Ludovick Takam once more showing his prowess in front of goal as he cleverly turned his marker to fire a low shot into the far corner of the net.

The Dolphins should have pushed on from this promising start, however their attack began to falter and they allowed the visitors to gain in confidence, culminating in an equalizing goal after 68 minutes when midfielder Nanthasri got free in the Pattaya area to power a header past goalkeeper Narit.

Pattaya United’s Keisuke Ogawa, right, battles for the ball with a TOT defender during their Thai premier league match at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Saturday, Oct. 6. (Photo/Pattaya United) Pattaya United’s Keisuke Ogawa, right, battles for the ball with a TOT defender during their Thai premier league match at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Saturday, Oct. 6. (Photo/Pattaya United)

If the writing wasn’t already on the wall for United it certainly was 2 minutes later as Rithiphan broke through the Pattaya back line to stroke the ball past Narit and give his team a 2-1 lead.

TOT were reduced to 10 soon after as Mohamed was sent off for dissent, but the tide of the match had already turned in TOT’s favour and they went on to add a third goal in injury time as Rithiphan dribbled through the Pattaya defenders to bag his second of the match.

The Dolphins are now left looking once more over their collective shoulder as the teams battling relegation seek to close the 6 point gap.  Indeed, just 10 points now separates 11 teams from sixth to sixteenth positions.  United were due make an away trip to Chainat FC this past midweek and will be back in league action this coming Sunday, Oct. 14 with a home fixture against Bangkok Glass.  Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Thai Premier League Results & Standings (Sept. 30)

Team P W D L +/- Pts
Muang Thong United 29 22 7 0 38 73
Chonburi 28 18 6 4 29 60
Buriram United 30 13 11 6 19 50
BEC Tero Sasana 30 13 8 9 1 47
TOT 30 10 11 9 2 41
Esan United 30 9 13 8 -2 40
Bangkok Glass 30 9 13 8 12 40
Wuachon United 29 9 12 8 1 39
Army United 30 9 12 9 -3 39
Chiangrai United 30 9 11 10 -6 38
Samut Songkhram 30 10 8 12 -5 38
Osotspa 29 11 4 14 0 37
Pattaya United 30 9 9 12 -6 36
Police United 30 7 11 12 -6 32
Chainat 30 6 12 12 -17 30
Thai Port 30 7 9 14 -15 30
BBCU 29 4 11 14 -20 23
TTM Chiangmai 30 2 12 16 -22 18
Results:  TTM Chiangmai 2 – 5 Thai Port; Pattaya United 1 – 3 TOT; Chonburi 4 – 1 BBCU; Muang Thong United 3 – 0 Esan United; Samut Songkhram 1 – 1 BEC Tero Sasana; Army United 3 – 3 Buriram United; Wuachon United 3 – 0 Osotspa; Police United 4 – 2 Chainat; Chiangrai United 1 – 0 Bangkok Glass