Buriram recovered from going a goal behind to overcome Chiang Rai in an entertaining encounter at a rain-soaked I-Mobile Stadium . It was a completely different side from the one that struggled to make any impact against Navy and gives renewed hope of a top three finish.
Despite being thwarted by the woodwork twice, Buriram continued to bombard the visitors’ goal and got their reward with a Tunez penalty,following a handball. However, there still remain concerns as Buriram had enough chances to win three games.
Moreira is not looking like a clinical goalscorer and missed a golden opportunity to open his Buriram account. Diogo (complete with go-faster haircut) also is not the lethal striker of last season but the goals will certainly come.
The defence was again wide-open to quick counter-attacks ,particularly down the flanks and it is vital that the management decide on a settled line-up as soon as possible.
On the plus side, Buriram have come up with a diamond in Chitpanya. The midfielder was at the heart of most that was good and his tireless running and aggressive attacking intent was a joy to watch. He was everywhere and as a bonus delivered some excellent corners.
Following a heavy downpour, there was standing water on the pitch which initially caused the players problems, particularly with the ball holding up. Chiang Rai were the first to threaten in the third minute when following a quick break down the left, Siwarak was at full stretch to hold the resulting low cross.
Two minutes later Chitpanya was just beaten to a through-ball by the onrushing keeper who blocked with his legs. After sixteen minutes a left-wing cross caused panic in the visitors’ defence before the ball was eventually hacked clear.
Shortly after, Chitpanya was heavily brought down and Kaio was narrowly wide with the free-kick from twenty-five yards. A quick break down the left in the twenty-second minute resulted in Kaio sending in a good low shot which was well-saved by the keeper.
Buriram were inches from breaking the deadlock after twenty-five minutes when a right-wing corner was half-cleared and Supachok’s low shot went through a forest of legs before hitting the base of the upright.
Chiang Rai had been threatening on the break and took the lead on the half-hour. They moved the ball down the left and then when the ball was carried inside a well-struck shot took a wicked deflection off Suree and left a helpless Siwarak completely stranded.
Buriram were swift to respond and two minutes later Kaio turned superbly in the box before hammering his shot against the post with the keeper beaten. Buriram continued to press and should have levelled five minutes before the interval.
Supachok fed Kaio down the left and the Brazilian sent over an inch-perfect low cross, only for Moreira to somehow fire over the bar from four yards. Back came Buriram and Chitpanya put Diogo clear with a delightful through-ball but he placed his shot agonizingly wide of the far-post.
Suree’s night got worse when he was shown a deserved yellow card for a ridiculously high challenge. Deep into stoppage time Buriram finally got their just reward when Korrakot’s superbly driven-in free-kick from the left was met by Kaio who gleefully beat the keeper with a firm header.
A welcome boost but Buriram could so easily have been out of sight . It had been a huge improvement and it was good to see them attack with pace, the Buriram way.
Buriram almost made the perfect start when Chitpanya fired in a shot which the keeper inexplicably allowed to hit his chest and the ball fell to Suree but the keeper recovered to block his low effort.
Chiang Rai then hit Buriram again on the break and got clear down the left-channel but thankfully the resulting low sot was just wide of the far post. The home side then carved out a good chance in the fifty-sixth minute when Diogo headed down a deep cross from the right only for Sakeereen to fire way over the bar.
A minute later a Korrakot right-wing corner was met by Tunez at the near post but his header was fractionally too high. Just after the hour mark Supachok was replaced by Anon and Surat was replaced by Adisak.
Ten minutes later Buriram should have had a penalty when Chitpanya was crudely brought down in the box but the referee waved play on. Chitpanya almost got the goal he richly deserved in the seventy-fourth minute.
Buriram had been awarded a free-kick, thirty yards out in a central position and the midfielder curled a superb shot round the wall, only for the keeper to pull off a great save, diving low to his right.
From the resulting corner , Buriram came even closer but Moreira’s header was cleared off the line. Shortly after Tunez received an unnecessary yellow card and Moreira was then replaced by Sieghart.
Just when it seemed the gods were not going to smile on Buriram, they did, ten minutes from time. Korrakot sent over a cross from the left and inexplicably a defender stuck out an arm for an obvious penalty.
Tunez, as usual, did the necessary as he sent a firm low shot into the left-hand corner of the net. It was no-more than Buriram deserved and it was almost three shortly after when Kaio completely missed the ball ten yards out following a left-wing cross.
The visitors were then reduced to ten men when the recipient of a yellow card informed the referee what he thought of the decision and was promptly shown red. This produced disgraceful scenes as the whole Chiang Rai team surrounded the official with the goalkeeper actually physically man-handling him.
When order was finally restored, there was still time for Sakeereen to thunder a thirty-yard shot inches too high and Kaio to shoot straight at the keeper when well-placed.
So a welcome three points though the margin of victory should have been much greater. Kaio had one of his “better” games but still makes too many mistakes and gives away too many free-kicks.
Although it’s early days, Moreira has not really shown that he can be prolific at this level. Perhaps a goal will settle him down. Tunez was outstanding at the back but still insists on getting involved with officials. It has to stop.
Next up is a trip to Kasetsart in the League Cup on Wednesday July 6 , 6pm.