Buriram United produced one of the best performances in their history when they held Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande to a 1-1 draw in China in their opening game in Group G in the Asian Champions League. Indeed, they could have won it late on but that would have been harsh on the home side.
Looking at the two teams before the game, it was difficult to see how Buriram could possibly get a result against a team bristling with full internationals. To be brutally honest, Buriram could have been dead and buried after ten minutes as they were simply swept aside by their illustrious opponents.
But they grew in confidence as the game went on and the introduction of Edgar for the second-half changed the course of the match. Young Supachok had hardly had a kick in the first-half and I felt leaving Edgar on the bench was a tactical error even before the match started.
Buriram were never going to see a lot of the ball and were going to be under intense pressure. This was not a game for Supachok as Buriram needed an outlet for the defence which Edgar provided. He was quite simply superb. He held the ball up well, his close control and distribution were excellent and he took his chance coolly.
After a very shaky opening , Tunez marshalled his troops at the back brilliantly and despite all their possession, Evergrande did not really have a clear sight of goal the whole of the second-half. Every single Buriram player “rolled their sleeves up” and battled for every ball and they can all be immensely proud of themselves.
It could all have been so different had the referee not made two dreadful decisions in the opening eight minutes. In the first minute of the game Siwarak patently took out an Evergrande forward as he attempted to round him but the referee gave only a corner.
Then in the 8th minute Pansa felled Alan from behind but again the official saw nothing amiss. They were both stonewall penalties but somehow Buriram escaped.
The home side had the ball in the net in the 9th minute but it was ruled out for offside. It was a very close call and it would have been difficult to criticize the assistant referee whichever way he ruled.
Evergrande had a great chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute when Goulart split the Buriram defence with a slide-rule pass that sent fellow Brazilian Alan racing clear but he fired narrowly over.
However, the inevitable was not delayed for long as a minute later an excellent left-wing cross found Goulart who rose to beat Siwarak with a great header. It was vital that Buriram did not let their heads drop and they responded well when Diogo burst clear down the right in the 17th minute and his dangerous cross was almost turned into his own net by a lunging defender.
Little was seen of Buriram as an attacking force after that but they did close up the gaps in midfield which the home side were initially ruthlessly exploiting. Thus, they limited the Chinese to a couple of half chances.
Edgar was introduced at the interval and he had an immediate impact in the opening minute of the half when he headed on a long ball out from the back to send Diogo clear on goal but he lobbed the bouncing ball wide of the far post with the keeper stranded.
A minute later, Tunez met a Korrakot left-wing corner with a low volley which flew inches wide of the near-post. The home side responded with a free-kick in the 49th minute which Siwarak did well to turn round the post.
Shortly after he was in action again as got down low to his left to gather a shot from the edge of the area.
Buriram then sent their traveling fans into raptures by equalizing in the 56 minute. The defence did not deal with a right-wing cross and when the loose ball reached Edgar he kept his cool to turn the ball into the net. There was a suspicion of offside but the flag stayed down.
This visibly shook the Chinese champions who surged forward but were restricted to just a couple of corners. Diogo then carved out an opening for himself in the 70th minute but fired narrowly wide.
Supachai came on for Junsoo shortly after as the Korean had picked up a knock following a heavy tackle. Edgar was causing the home side plenty of problems and made a good run down the right in the 76th minute before cutting inside and firing in a fierce shot which the keeper palmed away.
A minute later a good cross from the left picked him out but his header was just wide. Buriram then brought on Sasalak for Jakkaphan in the 79th minute and the diminutive midfielder almost became an instant,though unlikely, hero.
A superb move out of defence saw Diogo race away down the right before sending over a perfect cross for Sasalak to rise high and power a header centimetres too high with the keeper nowhere.
Buriram then decided to hang on to what they had and they comfortably saw out time without any real dramas though Siwarak did have to be alert to deal with a low shot in stoppage time. The only blemish was a needless yellow card for Tunez for giving some unwanted advice to the referee.
The enormity of this result should not be underestimated. The Chinese were visibly rattled and the others in the group will be changing their thoughts about meeting Buriram. Yes, the game could and should have been settled in the first ten minutes but it wasn’t and you can’t take anything away from this team who should have made all Thailand proud. Even Muang Thong fans ! Ok, perhaps not !!!
Next it’s back to the league on Sunday, February 18 with Bangkok Glass coming to the Chang Arena with their new head coach Josep Ferre, former director of the Buriram Academy. Kick off is 7pm.