Buriram’s chances of Champions League football next season evaporated in the Bangkok night-air as they went down for the third time this season to their bitter rivals.
They did mount a spirited fight-back in the second-half but found the Muang Thong keeper in inspired form. The first-half was a shambles and the dismissal of a Moreira for a disgraceful stamp on an opponent’s head made their task nigh-on impossible.
Leaving Chitpanya on the bench was an unbelievable decision as he has been outstanding in every game he has played . It was no coincidence that Buriram were more threatening after his introduction, even with only ten men.
Koravit was also left on the bench and despite his lack of match-fitness, when he came on the defence looked far more secure. Another poor decision.
Buriram were totally anonymous in the early part of the first-half with Muang Thong dominating possession. The only surprise was that it took the home side twenty-six minutes to take the lead.
The ball was worked through the middle before being switched wide right and a perfect low cross found Adisak completely unmarked eight yards out for an easy finish.
Buriram almost hit straight back a minute later when the ball was laid back to Diogo on the edge of the area but his effort was just too high.
Shortly after, Buriram were left in complete disarray when following an aerial challenge, Moreira stamped on his marker’s head to leave the referee with no option but to send him off.
It was a moment of utter madness and he has let himself and everyone connected with club, down. Despite this, Buriram were almost level in the thirty-third minute when a right-wing cross eventually reached Diogo four yards out but somehow the keeper managed to block his shot when a goal looked certain.
Diogo then showed his frustration by pushing an opponent to the ground in a bizarre incident which earned him a yellow card. The home side responded by increasing their lead in the thirty-seventh minute.
Tunez carelessly gave the ball away on the edge of the area but their still seemed little danger when Teerasil collected the ball and turned to his right before curling a wonderful shot beyond the despairing Siwarak.
Deep into first-half stoppage time a long ball from Tunez had the Muang Thong keeper struggling to deal with it outside the area under pressure from Diogo but the ball eventually cleared him to go out for a corner.
There was still time for Suree to collect a yellow card for a very rash challenge.
So, very little to cheer about that first-half and the possibility of a severe drubbing was very real.
Buriram brought on Chitpanya for Korrakot as they looked to salvage some pride. Dos Santos made a complete hash of a good chance in the fifty-second minute before a great last-ditch tackle by Chitpanya halted Adisak as he bore down on goal.
Shortly after, good work by Dos Santos down the right saw him find Anon who just couldn’t get a shot in under pressure from two defenders. Muang Thong then looked to have ended the game as a contest with a third goal in the sixty-fourth minute.
The ball was moved down the right- flank and the Buriram defence were totally oblivious to the dangerous Cleiton standing completely unmarked beyond the far-post.
The cross duly found the Brazilian hitman who took the ball in his stride before firing a low shot across Siwarak into the far-corner of the net. Schoolboy defending would be a very kind way of putting it.
Buriram almost hit straight back when following a quick break down the left, Diogo delayed his shot too long and his low effort was blocked. Koravit came on for Suree in the seventy-third minute and then Buriram pulled a goal back shortly after.
A right-wing cross found Tunez who brought the ball down superbly before turning his marker and firing in a shot which was deflected into the net by a covering defender.
The big defender then collected a yellow card shortly after for an unsolicited remark to the referee. Buriram brought on Supachok for Anon in the eighty-first minute as they pushed forward in the final ten minutes.
They were denied by two excellent saves by the home keeper, the second from a Dos Santos header from a Jakkaphan right-wing corner, was outstanding.
Despite these near-misses, Buriram got what they deserved. The team selection and the sending-off resulted in a dire first-half performance when the situation required that Buriram be at their very best.
Their season is now effectively over with only a League Cup quarter-final at high-flying Bangkok United to look forward to ? next week. They need now to settle on a defensive line-up and stick with it , ahead of next season. The same with the midfield with hopefully Seul-Ki returning soon.
Buriram travel to Chainat Hornbill in the league on Sunday August 7, 7pm.