Buriram progressed to the last 16 of the FA Cup with the expected 5-1 defeat of Division 4 Phitsanulok. The visitors showed remarkable fight and never let their heads drop to provide a thoroughly entertaining game.
However, there maybe more to come out of this game as it could be that the pivotal midfield position problem has been solved. Buriram fielded a strong side and gave starts to both Supachok and Supachai.
But the unexpected star of the show was Koravit in midfield. He was simply outstanding! True, you have to consider the opposition but Koravit looked composed on the ball, making several telling runs.
His pass completion rate was 100%, not one ball was wasted and his vision and ability to send in dangerous crosses gave Buriram a new dimension. It was probably the most complete midfield display I have witnessed in my 5 years here.
Why has he spent all those years wasting his talents at full-back? It will be interesting to see if the management agrees with me.
The scoreline could have had a much different look about it had so many chances not fallen to Bastos who had a night to forget, let’s leave it at that.
The first real opening came in the 12th minute when Coelho played a ball in from the right and Supachok’s overhead kick was inches wide. Buriram came even closer three minutes later when Coelho found Bastos with a lovely ball into the box and he attempted to lift the ball over the keeper who somehow managed to turn it over the bar.
The breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Tunez found himself out on the right-wing and he sent over a perfect cross for Coelho to score with a flick-header into the bottom corner of the net.
Buriram should have made it two in the 23rd minute when Koravit left the defence for dead down the left-flank before picking out Bastos who turned superbly but his lame shot was straight at the keeper.
The visitors almost grabbed a shock equalizer in the 27th minute when Yotsapon dived full-length to his left to turn a fierce shot round the post.
Two minutes later Koravit cut through the visitors’ defence, beating four defenders before finding Supachok but his cross was too deep.
It was Koravit again in the 31st minute when he split the defence to pick out Coelho who turned inside two markers but dragged his shot wide.
Koravit then laid another chance on a platter for Bastos in the 33rd minute but he shot straight at the keeper when he had time to pick his spot.
Koravit continued to create havoc in the Phitsanulok defence, this time setting up Coelho in the 37th minute but he shot wide.
The second goal did eventually come in the 42th minute when Seul-Ki and Supachok combined to give Coelho the chance to hit a fierce shot which struck the keeper’s legs. The resulting left-wing-corner taken by Bastos was cleared back out to him and when he returned the ball into the area,he found Coelho who scored with a downward header.
It became three in stoppage time when Coelho sent Narubadin surging to the byline down the right and his low pull-back was smashed first-time into the net by the inrushing Seul-Ki.
Koravit continued to torment the visitors in the second period and in the 51st minute he played a wonderful ball into the box from the left for Supachok to set up Bastos in front of an open goal but he somehow contrived to shoot wide.
The fourth goal duly came in the 56 minute when a flowing move saw the ball switched to the right for Narubadin to get to the byline before finding Supachok who scored with a well-controlled low shot into the corner of the net. That was the youngster’s last contribution as he was replaced by Suchao.
Three minutes later Phitsanulok scored a well-deserved consolation goal when the lively Diarra easily outpaced Chitipat before smashing an unstoppable shot past Yotsapon.
Bastos then missed another golden opportunity in the 61st minute when he side-footed wide of an open net after good work by Supachai down the right.
The Brazilian nearly got it right in the 64th minute when he let fly from 25 yards but the ball smacked against the crossbar and from the rebound Coelho’s shot was turned against the post by the keeper.
Normal service was resumed in the 68th minute when Bastos sent another good chance high over the bar. Diogo then made his appearance , surprisingly coming on for Coelho when there was a far more obvious candidate.
Koravit then made a great surging run into the left side of the area in the 72nd minute before once again setting up Bastos but the end result was sadly predictable.
Narupon came on for Seul-Ki in the 76th minute before Diogo wrapped things up in the 88th minute. Suchao found Koravit out on the left and he sent over a stunning cross which left Diogo with the simplest of downward headers.
It really was an outstanding performance by Koravit and surely he has to keep his place. Bastos is a problem, as not only does he miss numerous chances, he is also obsessed with back-heels instead of taking an easier option.
The goals should continue to flow in the next game against Super Power on Sunday, August 6, 6pm.