Buriram came away with a 2-1 victory over Saraburi to move two points clear at the top of the league. After an uninspired first half, two goals in as many minutes just before the interval put Buriram firmly in control and they strolled through the second-half, despite a nervy last few minutes when Saraburi pulled a goal back.
Buriram were without the suspended Suchao and Surat continued at centre-back for the injured Tunez.Macena was also still missing, with Sittichok continuing to deputize. Buriram received a scare when they almost fell behind in the fourth minute.
Following a throw from the right Siwarak had to get down quickly to block a close range effort with his chest before the ball was cleared. After that the game was rather low-key with neither side creating anything of note apart from a few free-kicks, one of which was conceded by Seul Ki who received a yellow card in the sixteenth minute.
Theerathon had the home keeper clawing out an inswinging right-wing corner in the twenty-first minute and he did the same from Jakkraphan’s left- wing corner five minutes later.
Saraburi had a great chance to take the lead on the half-hour mark when hesitant defending presented the home side with a clear shooting chance from twelve yards but the ball was sliced wide.
Buriram had not really threatened the home goal but then hit Saraburi with a quick one-two. In the thirty-seventh minute some neat play saw Chaowat release Jakkraphan with a clever back-heel. The midfielder still had plenty to do and he went outside his marker before beating the keeper with a cool,low right-foot finish into the far corner.
The celebrations had hardly finished when Buriram made it two. Diogo latched onto a long ball which bounced perfectly for him to skillfully lift the ball over a despairing keeper. An excellent piece of finishing.
Buriram almost let Saraburi back into it a minute from the break when a long ball was not dealt with by the defence and Siwarak had to block the ensuing shot from a tight angle with his chest. So a healthy two-goal lead had Buriram well in control at half-time.
Buriram made an explosive start to the second-half when Seul Ki thundered in a shot from outside the area and was unlucky to see the ball cannon off the underside of the bar with the keeper beaten. Seul Ki had another chance in the fifty-eighth minute when he was set up by Narabadin but fired wide. He was then replaced by Anawin shortly after.
Just after the hour mark, Diogo fed Sittichok whose well-struck shot was saved by the keeper at the expense of a corner. Shortly after Chaowat was replaced by Naraphol. Buriram were in complete control, happy to play possession football without really looking to extend their lead.
This meant there was little action of note though Diogo was very unlucky to receive a yellow card in the seventy-fifth minute. Sittichok was then replaced by Santirad and five minutes from time Buriram gifted the hosts a way back into the game.
A left-wing corner was not gathered cleanly by Siwarak and the ball was turned into the net from close range. So a nervy last eight minutes or so though to be fair,Buriram were the team looking more likely to score. In the first minute of stoppage time Diogo tried an audacious chip which was only just over the top.
A minute later he had a great chance when Jakkraphan made progress down the left and picked out Diogo right in front of goal with the keeper out of position. Instead of burying his shot, Diogo sidefooted the ball, allowing a retreating defender to block the shot.
It had not been a sparkling performance but Buriram did enough against a side who are on the up. Yet again though, it showed how much Buriram rely on Tunez and Macena and it is to be hoped they regain fitness soon.
Next games, Wednesday July 22nd Bangkok Glass (A) 18.00 League Cup, Sunday July 26th BEC Tero (H) 19.00 League.