It was the Cup Final all Thailand wanted, the clash of the titans. In harsh reality it was men against boys as Buriram dominated their bitter rivals from start to finish. The midfield was outstanding and Macena and Diogo pulled the Muang Thong defence all over the pitch.
When danger did occasionally threaten Tunez and Koravit were imperious, snuffing out the usually big threat of Cleeton and Mario. In what has been a fantastic season, Buriram undoubtedly saved the best till last and showed just why they ran away with the title.
They hardly wasted a ball and when they did lose possession they fought like tigers to regain it leaving their opponents looking forlorn long before the final whistle. Even when Mario pulled a goal back, he knew it was nothing more than a consolation. Being truthful, Muang Thong were lucky to get away with 3-1, such was Buriram’s superiority.
Buriram were at full strength and fielded what I believe to be their best team , with Anawin and Jakkaphan joining Suchao, Seul-Ki and Theerathon in midfield. Straight from the kick-off Buriram went on the offensive and Macena got to the byline down the left before crossing for Diogo to get in a powerful header which was turned over by the keeper.
From the resulting Suchao corner, Seul-Ki headed over at the near post. In the tenth minute Anawin was brought down wide right and Theerathon’s swinging free-kick was gathered by the keeper. Seven minutes later Suchao cut in from the right and sent a low shot just past the post, though the keeper did have it covered.
It was twenty minutes before Muang Thong managed a meaningful attack when Cleeton ran at the defence and evaded two half-hearted tackles before crossing but it was intercepted by Koravit. The ensuing inswinging corner caused a little consternation in the Buriram defence before going out for a goal-kick.
Buriram went back upfield in the twenty-fifth minute and Theerathon sent in a powerful low shot which the keeper did well to stop and the follow-up went out for a fruitless corner. Three minutes later the ball was headed out to Macena on the edge of the box and the Brazilian tried to curl a shot into the top corner but was just wide.
Buriram carved out a good chance in the twenty-ninth minute when Macena again got to the byline before cutting the ball back for Jakkaphan but a covering defender just got a foot in and the ball looped into a grateful keeper’s arms. The Muang Thong stopper was in action again shortly after.
Diogo made progress down the right before laying the ball off for Anawin to crash in a great drive which was superbly turned over by the over-worked keeper. Buriram had another good chance in the thirty-seventh minute. A left wing cross travelled out to the right and Anawin pulled the ball back for Seul-Ki to sidefoot just wide from ten yards out.
Four minutes before the interval Anawin received a yellow card for a needless shirt pull. Then Buriram finally made the breakthrough in the forty-second minute. Suchao played the ball forward for Diogo to collect and move into the box before being felled by a thigh-high tackle.
The referee immediately pointed to the spot amidst furious Muang Thong protests. It took a full THREE minutes for the referee to restore order and even then the keeper tried to unnerve the waiting Tunez by walking off his line. He was simply wasting his time as the big defender sent him the wrong way ,hitting a low shot to the keeper’s left.
Tunez never looks close to missing a penalty, his technique is superb and he always remains ice-cool under pressure. It was certainly no more than Buriram deserved and Muang Thong really had no cause to feel aggrieved about the decision.
So a good half for Buriram and they were firmly in control and looked likely to add further goals in the second period.
Buriram continued where they left off and two minutes into the half Suchao and Anawin combined well down the right before the ball was pulled back and the waiting Seul-Ki was only just beaten to it by a desperate defender. Then a quick free-kick by Diogo set Jakkaphan free who in turn found Macena down the right but his cross was turned behind for a corner.
However the vital second goal arrived in the fiftieth minute. A right-wing corner was met by Diogo but his header was cleared off the line by a combination of the keeper and a defender’s arm. The ball eventually came back to him and the Brazilian lofted it deftly back into the box for Seul-Ki to send a great header at the near post into the far-corner of the net.Just about game over !
Muang Thong responded by creating a half-chance two minutes later but Cleeton sent his header wide. Buriram had a great chance to add a third on the hour. A right-wing Suchao corner was half-cleared and when the ball was played back in, Tunez was just onside and unmarked but he was unable to keep the bouncing ball down and it flew over the bar.
Buriram continued to press and Diogo’s low cross from the left was met by Seul Ki but his shot was way too high. Buriram were not to be denied though and they wrapped the game up with a sensational piece of skill by Jakkaphan in the seventieth minute.
A great long ball set Macena free down the right and when his cross eluded everyone the ball was collected by Jakkaphan outside the box on the left. The midfielder turned inside before curling a brilliant right-foot shot into the top corner to spark wild celebrations on and off the pitch.
It was a goal that would grace any stage and it left Muang Thong completely shattered and staring down the barrell of a hammering. Shortly after Anawin was replaced by Narubadin and Chaowat came on for Seul-Ki as the Korean had been involved in an earlier clash of heads.
Muang Thong almost got a goal back in the seventy-eighth minute when following a goalmouth scramble Theerathon cleared the ball off the line, though replays suggest he was possibly behind the line. The ball was then played forward for Macena to break free and get in a shot which was blocked.
Muang Thong did get on the scoresheet ten minutes from time when uncharacteristic slack defending left Mario completely unmarked and he easily beat Siwarak with a low shot. There were no celebrations from Mario as he knew that it was nothing more than a consolation.
Buriram should have restored their three-goal advantage five minutes later when Macena raced away down the right before crossing for Diogo six yards out. It looked a formality but the striker completely missed his kick and the ball was cleared.
Chaowat then received a yellow card before Mario was given his marching orders for a second yellow. A minute later Diogo was put through by Macena but his low shot was saved by the keeper. The Brazilian was then replaced by Anon for the final couple of minutes before the referee signalled the end of Buriram’s remarkable season.
If there were any people who doubted Buriram’s pedigree, this performance must surely have shown the quality Buriram have throughout the team. The second-best team in Thailand were made to look ordinary to say the least as Buriram collected an unprecedented FIFTH trophy of a memorable season.
I will be writing a full review of the season later but for now the Buriram faithful can bask in the glory of seeing their heroes give their fierce rivals a night to forget. If they ever can !!
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