A goal nine minutes from time knocked Buriram out of the FA Cup but it may well have done them a favour. The game was heading for extra-time which is the last thing Buriram wanted with a crucial league game at Suphanburi coming up on Sunday.
It was a strange game with both teams playing good football but at a very sedate pace and clear-cut chances were at a premium. What there were fell to Buriram and they should have been taken.
As it is, now Buriram can focus fully on gaining the six points they need to regain the league title, regardless of what Muang Thong do.
There was no Diogo , not even on the bench . Whether this was due to injury or suspension we don’t know. Hopefully, he’ll be back on Sunday as Bastos is nowhere near an adequate replacement.
Buriram started well with Supachok making a good run down the left before pulling the ball back for Seul-Ki to bring a smart save from the keeper. The next action of any note came in the 15th minute when Bastos picked up a yellow card for a needless heavy challenge.
Siwarak had to wait until the 24th minute to be called into action when he made a routine save from a header. That was just about it for the half as both sides seemed to be almost treating the game as a practice match.
Suchao was deservedly shown a yellow card in the 48th minute for a particularly bad challenge before Buriram were inches away from taking the lead in the 51st minute. The impressive Supachok crossed from the right and Coelho’s header beat the keeper but came back off the bar.
Four minutes later Narubadin’s low right-wing cross was met by Coelho whose low shot rolled agonizingly wide of the far-post with the keeper again a mere bystander.. Chitipat was then shown a yellow card for a needless challenge in the 59th minute.
The best chance of the game arrived in the 73rd minute when Supachok sent over a delightful cross from the right and Bastos’ header was well-saved by the keeper but the ball fell for Coelho four yards out but he somehow managed to shoot high and wide.
The winner came in the 81st minute and it was down to dreadful defending. Seul-Ki was all alone wide right when he inexplicably played a ball back across into the penalty area. It was a totally aimless pass and Buriram could only half-clear.
Chiang Rai collected the ball and crossed low from the left for Felipe to turn in at the near-post with the Buriram defender guilty of ball-watching.
Buriram took off Chitipat and Suchao but the last real action was Narubadin’s yellow card in the 89th minute.
Of course, you want to win trophies and you try to win every game but that goal could be the one that gives Buriram the championship. It was a low-key game and they have three days rest before the far from easy game at Suphanburi on Sunday, October 22, 7pm.
One good thing to emerge from this game was the performance of Supachok who was Buriram’s main threat throughout. Hopefully, he will now secure a place for the rest of the season.