Buriram maintained their position at the top of the league with an easy win over struggling Thai Honda. The home side never had to get out of second gear as the gulf in class was evident from the kick-off.
Perhaps the Buriram supporters knew what was in store as it was a very poor turn-out for a side who are top of the league. It’s difficult to criticise , given the number of matches having to be played in such a short period of time, but teams like Thai Honda should be beaten out of sight.
Buriram were happy to knock the ball about and keep possession, with no real speed or intensity in their play. This resulted in a very forgettable game which will do nothing to bring the spectators rushing back.
Right from the off, Buriram camped in the Honda half without really threatening their goal. The first real chance came in the 16th minuute when Diogo stretched to get on the end of a low through ball but he was unable to get enough power into his effort which was turned away for a corner.
Suchao’s first corner was turned behind for another one and his second was deeper and found Tunez in the box. The big defender controlled the ball before turning and sending a low shot into the corner of the net.
Five minutes later Anon went on a good run but his shot was weak and the keeper saved easily. Shortly after, Suchao picked up a needless yellow card for a late tackle.
On the half-hour mark, Coelho had the ball in the net but was correctly ruled offside.
Diogo came close to increasing Buriram’s lead in the 35th minute when he played a neat one-two with Narubadin on the right before moving into the box and firing a low shot against the near-post.
Immediately after Suchao was replaced by Korrakot. As the half moved into stoppage time, Narubadin was fouled wide right and the free-kick was played short to Coelho who moved into the box before hitting a fierce shot which the keeper turned over the bar.
When Korrakot’s right-wing corner was headed on, it left Diogo with the simplest of headers to double the home team’s advantage.
There was no time for the game to restart and it left Buriram firmly in the driving seat.
Buriram continued to press at the start of the second-half but the first real action saw Siwarak make a smart save, diving low to his left in the 56th minute.
Shortly after Supachai made a good run into the area but his low effort was turned aside by the keeper. From the resulting right-wing corner, Tunez saw his header headed off the line.
Another Korrakot inswinging corner caused chaos in the box but after a scramble the ball was cleared. Buriram were forced into a change on the hour mark as Pansa was stretchered off to be replaced by Chitipat.
After 70 minutes Buriram introduced another Brazilian as Diogo was replaced by Bastos, making his debut.
Three minutes later Coelho was desperately close to a third when he collected a right-wing cross and turned to hit a left-foot shot narrowly wide.
Ten minutes from time the tireless Sasalak collected a ball just inside the Honda half before thundering a thirty-five yard shot just over the bar. A minute later Coelho sent a free-kick inches wide of the post with the keeper beaten.
Bastos had a great chance to open his Buriram account in the 87th minute when Sasalak crossed from the right and Coelho laid the ball back to him but he hit his shot into the ground and over the top.
A minute later, in a rare Honda attack, Siwarak was forced into a great save when he was at full-stretch to turn away a powerful, goal-bound shot.
Deep into stoppage time , Coelho saw another good effort come off the outside of the post before the referee mercifully brought proceedings to a halt.
Yes, it was three points gained with the minimum of effort. However, I personally feel that teams like Thai Honda should be buried under an avalanche of goals. One, it gives the team confidence and two it sends a message to the rest of the league.
Anon was impressive but man of the match was Tunez whose defensive display was as close to perfection as you can possibly get.
Next up is a trip to Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday, July 1, 7pm.