Diogo scored the goal that took Buriram through to the League Cup Final but left the field devastated when he was shown a red card following a second yellow.It was extremely harsh on the Brazilian who had posed Buriram’s main threat all night, as he now misses the Final.
It was one of many questionable decisions by the referee which often left both sides scratching their heads.Buriram came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw which took them through 5-4 on aggregate.
It was a hard-fought game with both sides conceding far too many free-kicks resulting in little open attacking football. However, Buriram once again showed their battling qualities in the face of adversity to maintain their unbeaten record.
They will face Sisaket in an all-Isaan Final in Bangkok which will no doubt have bus companies rubbing their hands with glee. Sisaket overcame Police United with a 1-0 aggregate score over the two legs.
Buriram brought back Diogo to replace Macena and Narabudin came in for Anawin.Buriram started badly in the first-leg and did so again in this match. Army had a shooting chance in the first minute but the ball flew over the bar.
Buriram did not learn their lesson and fell behind in the eighth minute. Army were allowed to progress down their left flank far too easily and when the ball was pulled back for the completely unmarked Mongkol, he made no mistake from close range.
Buriram responded five minutes later when Diogo flicked a long ball on to send Jandson through but the big striker was just beaten to the ball by the alert keeper. Jandson had another half-chance in the seventeenth minute but poor control let him down.
Buriram continued to press and Jakkaphan put over a good right-wing cross which found Jandson but the Brazilian’s header was held comfortably,though rather theatrically, by the keeper.
Narabudin became the first recipient of a yellow card for a needless late challenge in the twenty-sixth minute. Three minutes later Jandson had a shot parried by the keeper and Diogo’s follow-up was deflected wide for a corner.
Theerathon’s cross was met by Seul Ki but the Korean’s header was wide. Tunez became the second Buriram player to be shown a yellow card for an uncharacteristic unnecessary challenge in the thirty-third minute. However, the big defender turned hero two minutes later.
Theerathon sent over a free-kick from the right and Diogo’s shot appeared to strike a defender’s arm in the box. Diogo reacted quickly to send a screaming shot towards the top corner,only for the keeper to make a great save.
Suchao’s right-wing corner was headed on by Jandson for Tunez to bury his header into the Army net to spark wild Buriram celebrations. It was no more than Buriram deserved and it was now game on.
It almost got even better for Buriram in the thirty-eighth minute when Theerathon made a great run out of defence down the left. He got in a bit of a tangle on the by-line but still managed to find Jakkaphan unmarked in the box.
The midfielder tried a delicate chip which was just too high.Perhaps a powerful shot might have been the better option. Suchao then received a yellow card for another reckless challenge before Narabudin had to head over his own crossbar following a dangerous cross.
So honours even at half-time with Buriram maintaining their narrow advantage in the tie. It was going to be a nail-biting second forty-five minutes. Buriram replaced Narabudin with Anawin as there was a real danger that the youngster was going to fall foul of the referee and get sent off.
Two minutes into the half it appeared that Buriram had been denied a stonewall penalty when Seul Ki was brought down.Replays showed that contact was made just outside the box but the referee inexplicably waved play on.
A visibly upset Seul Ki was then shown the yellow card for making his feelings known to the increasingly error-prone official.Buriram then almost took the lead in the fiftieth minute when the ball was played in for Jandson who sent a low shot towards the far corner of the net, only for the keeper to make a great save and turn it round the post.
Buriram then replaced Jakkaphan with Surat in the fifty-fourth minute and two minutes later Theerathon only just failed to clear the wall with a well-struck free-kick after Suchao had been brought down.
Army then came into the game on the hour mark when they attacked through the centre before switching the ball wide and Siwarak was forced into a great save from the resulting cross. A minute later Buriram had a real let-off.
Chitipat was guilty of a clear push in the area but much to Buriram’s relief the referee saw nothing amiss.After sixty-six minutes Theerathon had a low shot saved following two Buriram corners in quick succession.
The game was certainly in the balance with both teams fancying their chances. Diogo then became the latest player to go into the referee’s book and the Brazilian appeared bemused by a very debatable decision.
Buriram had a great chance to get the goal they so badly wanted in the seventy-fourth minute. A good cross from the right found Jandson but the striker did not get anywhere near high enough with his jump and the header flew over the bar.
Buriram were left to rue that miss three minutes later. Siwarak raced out to meet de Leeuw and the keeper got to the ball first but the Dutchman left his foot in and caught the keeper.Siwarak, although hurt, managed to knock the ball out of play.
The modern trend is to return the ball to the opposition under such circumstances,something I disagree with.Buriram were obviously expecting to get the ball back and were caught out by a quick Army throw down the left.
The ball was crossed in low, to leave the once again unmarked Mongkol the simplest of finishes from six yards. A devastating blow for Buriram which left the tie in the balance once again. But as I mentioned earlier, this Buriram side never lies down.
In the eighty-first minute a cross from the right was headed on to find Jandson and this time the Brazilian’s downward header was perfect but incredibly the keeper managed to touch it onto the post.
The rebound came out to Diogo who had defenders on the line to deal with.He showed superb presence of mind to keep his cool and calmly place the ball in the only free space available for a deserved equalizer.
It was an excellent finish which any striker in the world would have been proud of. Diogo was understandably delighted as were his teammates and the Buriram faithful.
This gave Buriram their advantage back and Chitipat was replaced by Nukoolkit in the eighty-third minute.But this game was far from over and Siwarak made a great save,diving to his right, from a header from a left-wing cross. Not only did Siwarak make the save, he held onto the ball. Excellent goalkeeping.
Back came Buriram and Seul Ki was brought down twenty-five yards out in a central position. Both Theerathon and Suchao lined up to take the kick but it was the skipper who crashed in a great shot which the keeper somehow tipped onto the underside of the bar and from there onto the post. Desperately unlucky.
The game went into stoppage time and Diogo was shown a second yellow, then a red, for a completely legitimate challenge. Neither yellow was merited and this means that Diogo misses the final.
However, I have to say that Diogo’s reaction was inexcusable. Yes, the referee made a lot of mistakes but there is no way officials should be shouted at or physically man-handled. Diogo deserves any punishment that is meted out.
Minutes later there was more drama as Siwarak made another great stop and the rebound was fired high and wide.There was just time for the referee to get in on the act again when he sent off the niggling de Leeuw following a second yellow.
A pulsating game, a good cup-tie. Not pretty to watch but very,very exciting.A battling performance by Buriram who just about deserved to go through. Buriram return to visit Army in the league on Saturday, 8pm kick-off.
They then entertain Ratchaburi on Wednesday October 28th, 7pm and we welome back former Buriram Academy Head Coach Josep Ferre who is now first team coach at Ratchaburi.