Pattaya Utd 0-2 Chonburi - Match Report: 2016

Adul's first match back in a Chonburi shirt, after returning "on loan" from Buriram Utd.

TPL
Pattaya Utd 0-2 Chonburi
Dolphin Stadium, Nong Prue
Saturday 25th June, 2016

Match report
by Peter Reeves
Quite a footballing evening. First half of Sukothai and Sisaket, small little ground but maybe three quarters full, Pattaya and Chonburi, another small ground with no running track but looked busy with the expected ranks of Sharks fans and finally the second half of Muangthong and Korat. Nice stadium, not full but decent numbers which must be expected given their position. First time I’ve watched the league leaders. Not impressed. Bangkok United are better and they must be thinking, very quietly, we have a chance here.

To the matter in point. Local derbies. The lifeblood of the game. There are some huge such rivalries all over the world. Pattaya United and Chonburi don’t really fit into that category but nevertheless a ‘derby’ it is, the edge only being taken off a bit knowing that both clubs are owned by the same family. It’s not ethical, shouldn’t be allowed and leaves both clubs and the owners subject to finger pointing if something unforeseen happens, which of course being football it can and does.

Sharks began positively, not creating much but keeping possession. Pattaya for their part showed that they might not be a pushover. On 11 minutes a penalty shout as a Sharks player went down. Exactly the same as what had happened at the other end 3 minutes before. Little shove, player goes down looking for it. No penalty. Right decisions both. Get up and stop whining. Sharks though were on top and on 16 minutes a good chance blazed over the bar. Doesn’t anyone teach these people technique? 

Chonburi were looking balanced in midfield and holding the ball. It was all coming from the inclusion of Adul. Not seen him before. He stamped an authority on the middle that was paying dividends. Puts the tackles in, doesn’t lie all over the floor mortally wounded calling for a stretcher at the passing of a slight gust of wind and plays with both feet. Not a big creator, but just what you need in the middle of the park. Good player, I like him, and it’s not often I say that here.

Pattaya were having their moments and had to be watched but Chonburi largely in control. The problems I see though of self-indulgence by some players that affect team performance can be seen clearly in the 21st and 30th minutes. In the 21st Prakit  advancing towards the penalty area lets fly a shot that was so bad it was embarrassing. Holds his hands up ‘sorry’ he says. Wasn’t sorry for very long he did it again in the 30th. Just plain hopeless. Get rid of him if he’s not going to play for the team.

He wasn’t alone. Twice Rodrigo broke in from the left and with players free in the middle tried blasting it. Normal service was resumed as neither went in. Apart from an overhead kick following a corner Pattaya weren’t really threatening. 43rd minute a corner, free header, 1-0. Sharks go in ahead and on the balance of play deservedly so. Hard on the Pattaya goalkeeper who was having a good game.

Second half Pattaya were better and really had control for large parts of it without really threatening to equalize. Lots of passes and movement and a lot of effort but they couldn’t produce a real chance. Though they were having less of the ball Chonburi hardly looked in trouble. Then Therdsak, animated on the touchline tonight, made a decisive change. He took off Rodrigo replacing him with Leandro. Now you had pace through the middle. Rodrigo doesn’t do it for me. Constantly caught offside, can’t take a 50/50 challenge from someone half his size. Isn’t aware of what’s going on around him.

Leandro made an immediate difference and with a few minutes to go, a Pattaya defender gave away a needless free kick when he handled when it was just as easy to chest it or head it. Free kick, Leandro bends in a second. 2-0.

Pattaya fans might feel hard done by, it could be argued in terms of possession it was against the run of play, but it was about right. Chonburi had bossed the first half, Pattaya maybe shaded the second but overall it was about right. Chonburi had been better due I suspect to Adul who made a big difference in midfield. With him there and Dos Santos behind they have the makings of a strong ‘spine’ of the team.

When Leandro came on they looked like they could be dangerous with his pace going right through the heart of defences. We’ll see what Therdsak does next time out. Will he see that? At the end celebrations with the fans who turned up in their numbers. It had been a good game to watch and two in a row might mean the end of what has been a bad period on and off the pitch. The off field problems remain but on the pitch a glimmer of hope. They’d better keep Adul, no money or not.