Any straws that Buriram were clutching at regarding progressing in the Champions League were ripped from their grasp by a far superior Sanfrecce Hiroshima . The Japanese were stronger in every department and though Buriram were not outclassed, they walked off a well-beaten team.
Goals at the end of either half saw the visitors home and left Buriram still looking for their first goal in the competition. Anon was tried up front and the youngster did enough to warrant another outing. His movement off the ball was intelligent and he caused the Sanfrecce defence problems as he was sent crashing to the ground on several occasions.
The same could not be said of Kaio who does not hold the ball up long enough to bring supporting players into the game and also gives too many free-kicks away through either needless fouls or being caught offside. Jakkaphan had “one of those nights” and Anawin wasn’t a lot better. Seul-Ki was more like his old self and Theerathon had a good second-half.
Tunez showed his genuine class throughout the game and Siwarak had no chance with either of the goals. Koravit is a big loss, especially as Nattapol gets caught out by long balls too often. Narubadin had a steady game at right-back, though he was at fault for the second goal.
Kaio was a little unlucky in the third minute when a defender just managed to block his goal-bound shot. Buriram were then caught out by two long balls down their left flank, leaving a visiting attacker a free run on both occasions. In the ninth minute Suchao did well to get to the byline down the right but his low cut-back was blocked by a defender.
Six minutes later Suchao’s right-wing corner was headed out to Jakkaphan who whipped in an excellent cross which evaded everyone in a pink shirt. Buriram put together an excellent move, involving Narubadin, Suchao and Anon in the twenty-second minute. The ball was eventually laid back to Jakkaphan on the edge of the area but he sent a woeful shot high and very wide.
Three minutes later Anon’s run was spotted by Seul-Ki and the Korean picked him out with a lovely through ball but the resulting shot lacked the power to trouble the keeper. Shortly after, Theerathon’s left-wing corner found Tunez but the usually reliable defender failed to make contact with his head when it only needed a touch.
The Buriram left-flank was then again exposed by two long balls out of defence but the home side survived. However, there was no reprieve a minute before the interval when Sanfrecce went ahead with a carbon-copy of Adriano’s first two goals for FC Seoul. The ball was played between two static defenders and Miyayoshi was onto it in a flash before moving to his right and sending a low shot across Siwarak into the left corner of the net.
Excellent finishing but poor defending. It was a litle harsh on Buriram to go in a goal down at half-time but Sanfrecce did look very solid. They were quick to get men behind the ball when Buriram had possession and their movement and passing when they had the ball was impressive.
Buriram started the second-half on the offensive and should have levelled in the forty-sixth minute. Anon was brought down on the left and Suchao’s free-kick found Tunez unmarked. However, the big Venezuelan inexplicably failed to make contact once again with the goal at his mercy.
Shortly after , Anon was again brought down but the free-kick came to nothing. Siwarak had to be alert in the fiftieth minute and he did well to block the ball with his body when a long shot bounced wickedly right in front of him. Back came Buriram and a good move down the left saw Kaio get to the byline with three Buriram players up in support.
However, the Brazilian failed to look up and his low cross went harmlessly across the area and out of play. Jakkaphan was then replaced by Sathaporn as Buriram began to apply a bit of pressure. They were desperately unlucky not to equalize in the fifty-sixth minute.
A cross from the left caused panic in the visitors’ defence and when the ball fell for Suchao eight yards out, a goal seemed a formality. The skipper struck his shot well enough but the keeper instinctively threw out his right hand and the ball actually stuck ! Unbelievable !
A minute later Siwarak made a good save, diving low to his right, after a through ball split the Buriram defence. Another long ball, this time down the Buriram right, caused problems but Tunez cleared the danger at the expense of a corner. Anon was doing a lot right but his running was not getting the results it deserved due to over-hit passes.
Buriram were then hit by two yellow cards for rash tackles in an identical place near the halfway line in the space of two minutes. Kaio and Suchao were the guilty parties. Twenty minutes from time the visitors were inches away from increasing their lead. For just about the only time, Tunez was beaten and the resulting low shot came back off the post.
The danger wasn’t over and the defence took too long to get the ball away when the “big boot” was required. The ball was eventually cleared and then Buriram made another substitution. Anon was replaced by Anan , a decision that probably ended any hope Buriram had of getting back into the match.
Twelve minutes from time Sathaporn took a return pass from Seul-Ki and got through into the left-side of the area but he sent over a ball that was neither a shot or a cross and the chance was gone. Kaio finally managed to break clear in the eighty-third minute but then hammered his shot way over the crossbar.
Sanfrecce wrapped the game up three minutes from time when Narubadin got in front of Tunez near the halfway line but then missed the ball completely leaving Kosei free to race away down the left and then beat Siwarak with an exquisite chipped finish.
Although a defeat is always disappointing, it was a slightly better performance but the harsh reality remains, without Macena and Diogo , Buriram carry little threat up front. Kaio is never going to score a lot of goals and sadly Anan is way out of his depth. Yet again, quality players exploited the gaps in defence which are always likely to appear when playing three at the back.
Let’s hope Buriram can put this latest disappointment behind them against Chonburi at Thunder Castle on Friday April 15 in the re-arranged league game.