Buriram overcame the treacherous conditions to earn a thoroughly deserved three points at Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat). Torrential rain resulted in the teams having to come off midway through the first-half and though the game did restart, standing water made good football impossible.
It’s games like this that can decide championships and Buriram adapted far better than their opponents, scoring two fine goals without reply. Once again, Tunez was simply outstanding. Although Jakkaphan was made man of the match by the tv station, the big defender never put a foot wrong, which is quite something given the conditions.
However, it would be unfair to single out individuals as this really was a team effort and all of them rolled their sleeves up and got on with the job in hand.
Buriram almost made the perfect start when Coelho got on the end of a through ball in the 3rd minute but shot woefully wide with only the keeper to beat.
Three minutes later they did take the lead with a stunning strike by Bastos, in for the injured Diogo though he was on the bench. The Brazilian let fly from fully thirty-five yards and the ball screamed into the top corner of the net, leaving the keeper clutching at thin air.
By now the rain was was torrential and after a further 10 minutes, the referee had no alternative but to bring the players off.
When play resumed Bastos had a great chance to increase Buriram’s lead when a left-wing cross found him unmarked but he made made no attempt to get above the ball and head it down and his effort was inevitably too high.
Quite often in such difficult conditions, defenders struggle but in fact it was a further 14 minutes before we saw another clear-cut chance. It fell to the home side but a left-wing cross was headed straight at Siwarak.
Coelho then had another great chance when he somehow failed to make contact with a left-wing cross which only needed a touch to find the net.
The Brazilian was presented with another chance by Anon but his low effort was easily saved by the keeper in the 37th minute. Three minutes later the young midfielder was replaced by Narubadin, presumably through injury.
So 1-0 at half-time, with the rain still coming down but with Korat showing little threat up front.
Early in the second period, Narubadin was a little unfortunate to pick up a yellow card , though Sasalak could have no complaints about his in the 51st minute.
Buriram went further ahead in the 64th minute when Jakkaphan got to a through ball just before the onrushing keeper and took it round him before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The impressive Seul-Ki was replaced by Supachai in the 76th minute and a minute later Siwarak made a smart save from a long-range effort.
Buriram continued to look the more likely team to score but no more clear openings were created at either end as the visitors comfortably saw out time.
So, a well-deserved win to take Buriram into their next match against Thai Port at home on Wednesday, July 5, 6pm.
One piece of good news has come in, Supachok is very close to regaining full fitness and should be available for selection next week.