Buriram won a close encounter with Thai Port 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike by Coelho. The home side certainly deserved their victory but the visitors played their part and were prepared to attack at every opportunity.
Both teams played some attractive football and Buriram made good use of the flanks though at times they didn’t get enough bodies into the Port penalty area when the crosses came in.
Once again, the defence was excellent and haven’t conceded a goal since the return of the inspirational Tunez. Pansa is coming on in leaps and bounds and it takes the pressure off the front players , knowing that they’re not having to chase games.
Thai Port were skippered by former Buriram star David Rochela and he had a solid game at the heart of the defence,though he was far from happy with the assistant referee when Coelho was not flagged offside when he put Buriram ahead.
Buriram had a great chance to open the scoring in the 4th minute when a left-wing cross found Coelho unmarked but he inexplicably elected to head the ball back to Bastos when it looked easier to score.
A minute later a good move down the right saw Buriram win a corner and Korrakot’s cross found Bastos at the far-post but he headed way over.
Bastos figured again in the 17th minute when Jakkaphan slipped a neat pass to him but the Brazilian fired wide.
Buriram continued to press and Bastos was only just beaten to the ball by the keeper in the 23rd minute and shortly after Pansa headed narrowly over the bar.
Coelho had been guilty of poor control and passing on a number of occasions but he broke the deadlock in the 26th minute.
He ran onto a quick through-ball and appeared to be well offside. However, replays showed it was a very close call and the flag stayed down. Coelho advanced into the right-side of the box and when the keeper came out to meet him, the big striker nimbly side-stepped him before putting the ball into the empty net. Offside or not, an excellent finish.
Buriram almost doubled their lead two minutes later when Bastos fired in an excellent 25 yard free-kick, only for the keeper to make a good save low to his left.
Coelho had another couple of decent chances and Bastos got free down the right following some excellent team play in the 42nd minute only to put over a weak cross which was easily cleared.
Almost straight from the kick-off to start the second period , great play by Jakkaphan down the left saw him then find Coelho who hit a fierce volley on the turn which flew just wide.
Buriram had their first moment of real anxiety in the 50th minute when a cross came in from the right and Narubadin sliced his attempted clearance and Pansa turned the ball behind for a corner.
Coelho then had two chances in the space of a minute but failed to get in a telling effort on both occasions. He really can be a frustrating player at times but he keeps coming up with a goal, though his chance conversion ratio is not good.
Siwarak made his first save in the 54th minute when he turned a well-struck shot round the post. Seul-Ki then was shown a yellow card and from the resulting free-kick JUST outside the box, Siwarak was happy to see the ball fly just over the bar.
Back came Buriram and a great build up saw Anon get free down the right but with men in the box waiting for the pull-back, he went for glory from a tight angle and the chance was gone.
Shortly after Anon was replaced by Ratthanakorn and in the 63rd minute Coelho ran onto a through ball (managing to stay onside !) before turning past his marker and firing in a low shot which brought a superb save from the keeper.
From the resulting Korrakot corner from the right, the ball reached Bastos at the far-post but his header finished on top of the net. Another instance of not even trying to head the ball down.
Port then had their best chance in the 66th minute when after neat approach play down the left, a static home defence allowed a clear strike on goal which fortunately was straight at Siwarak.
Jakkaphan was replaced by Supachai in the 77th minute as Buriram continued to take the game to the visitors. However,Coelho was constantly being caught offside and he really needs to do something about it.
Deep into stoppage time Suchao came on for Bastos as Buriram comfortably saw out the remaining few minutes.
So a good three points against a more than useful side. Buriram certainly had the chances to put the game to bed and there was always the chance that Port could sneak an equalizer. The fact that they didn’t was down to Senor Tunez who once again was my man of the match.
Next up is THE big one, Muang Thong away on Sunday July 9, 7pm, which should see the return of Diogo.