Newly promoted Prachuap have made a good start to their first season in the top flight and were expected by many to give Buriram a run for their money. However, the home side dominated from start to finish as the visitors appeared overawed on their first visit to Thunder Castle.
There was no Tunez, presumably through injury and Praweenat moved into the centre of defence. Prachuap have two pacy strikers who could cause problems but the Buriram defence were rarely troubled as the it became very apparent early on, it would just be a case of how many Buriram score.
It has to be said that the game was not helped by a picky referee who made no attempt to let play flow and appeared to be unaware that football is still deemed a contact sport.
The first real opening came in the 14th minute when Edgar got to the byline down the left and his low cross was turned behind for a corner. Two minutes later Narabudin burst into the penalty area down the right before finding Diogo but his shot was blocked.
Buriram didn’t have to wait much longer and broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. The ball was worked down the right before Jakkaphan collected it in the area and turned to fire in a low shot. The keeper turned it away only for the alert Supachok to pounce and showing great awareness, squared the ball to give Diogo an easy finish.
Diogo was inches away from adding a second in the 27th minute when he was brought down just outside the area, just to the right of the D. He took the free-kick himself and hit a great shot which the keeper got the faintest of touches to and the ball came back off the crossbar.
Buriram carved out a great chance in the 30th minute when Diogo played Ratthanakorn in down the right with a beautiful pass following a neat one-two but the midfielder sent an aimless ball across goal when he should have taken responsibility and gone for goal.
Shortly after, Supachok caused panic in the visitors’ defence when after a great run down the left , his low cross saw the ball pinging about in the area before finally being cleared.
So a dominant first-half for Buriram but only one goal to show for it which is never enough. You just never know in this game.
The second-half continued in the same vein as the first, with Buriram pushing forward at will. Supachok again caused havoc in the visiting defence with a mazy run down the right which ended with a dangerous cross which Edgar could not divert on target with a diving header.
Supachok is looking the real now and potential is becoming reality. It was Narabudin’s turn to make a great run down the right in the 57th minute but all the good work was undone by a hugely, disappointing cross.
However, the second goal finally arrived in the 63rd minute when Diogo found Sasalak down the left and the midfielder advanced into the box before going to ground following a push. The Prachuap defenders were furious and it has to be said that Sasalak did go down very easily.
But it was a push and with this referee there was only going to be one outcome. Diogo stepped up to send a perfect penalty right in the corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Buriram made their first substitution three minutes later with Supachai coming on for Edgar. Prachuap almost snatched a surprise goal in the 74th minute when the ball was partially cleared only for it to be returned by a thunderous shot which clipped the top of the crossbar.
Shortly after, Supachok was replaced by Samson before Diogo lit up the night with a sublime piece of skill in the 83rd minute. A long crossfield ball found him in space out on the left. He moved into the corner of the box before threading a perfect low pass between two defenders to leave Ratthanakorn with the simplest of finishes.
Forget the fact that the Thai League is nowhere near one of the best in the world. Diogo’s vision and execution would have had the pundits drooling had it been Messi or Neymar. Pure class and the crowning glory on another man-of-the-match performance.
That was Ratthanakorn’s work for the night over and he was replaced by Anon for the final five minutes.
It was a comprehensive victory but some previous Buriram sides would have more than doubled the score given the freedom Buriram were afforded to attack. That is a concern as there are much tougher opponents to come.
Speaking of which, Buriram are at home to Cerezo Osaka from Japan in the Champions League on Tuesday, March 6, 6pm. This is a must win game following their home defeat in the last round of matches.
Just something that may be of interest, Buriram’s victory over Prachuap was their fifteenth consecutive league win.