Buriram made it four league wins in a row against Sukhothai at a rain-lashed Thunder Castle to reduce the gap on Muang Thong to twelve points.
A torrential downpour before the game, followed by steady rain, left large pools of water all over the pitch and both teams deserve credit for putting on a very entertaining game.
Of course, mistakes were made but generally the players coped well with the treacherous conditions. Diogo produced another master-class and his pace and skill in such adverse conditions was quite remarkable.
Chitpanya was also once again outstanding and he is now the heartbeat of this Buriram team. Unfortunately, opposing sides have been quick to latch onto this and he is coming in for some unacceptably harsh treatment and referees must start providing him with better protection.
Changes were again made at the back with Adisak the latest to be tried at the troublesome left-back position . (Footnote: Koravit is due to see a specialist at the end of the month and hopefully will be cleared to resume playing. He has been SORELY missed !)
Narubadin remained at right back, with Chitipat partnering Tunez. Sieghart moved back into midfield with Chaowat, Chitpanya and Kaio.
Even taking into acount the attrocious conditions, the defence once again was not operating as a unit. Both goals were a result of non-existent marking and Sukhothai were dangerous on many occasions .
The players’ biggest problem was the ball holding up in standing water and both teams initially struggled to string passes together. For a change, Buriram took the lead in the eleventh minute when Chaowat’s deep right-wing cross found Diogo beyond the far-post and he headed down for the ball to strike R.Maques on the foot before rolling over the line.
The visitors levelled in the twenty-fifth minute when a right-wing cross found two attackers completely unmarked and J.Baggio headed home from close range, giving Siwarak no chance.
Buriram regained the lead three minutes later with a fine goal by Chaowat. The ball was worked carefully down the left-flank before Chaowat collected it and moved inside before hitting a great shot from the edge of the box into the top right-hand corner.
The game was not exactly flowing, with both sides losing possession on a regular basis which was only to be expected. Diogo did make a surging run into the right side of the box in first-half stoppage time but his attempted pull-back was intercepted.
So a narrow advantage and one thing was certain….there WOULD be more goals in the second-half.
It didn’t take long for the first one to arrive when Diogo latched onto a through-ball down the middle in the fifty-fifth minute. The mercurial striker was under pressure from a defender and when the keeper advanced to meet him, Diogo contemptiously flicked the ball past him with the outside of his right boot and just inside the post. A true goal-scorer’s finish.
As in the previous game, Buriram went to sleep after scoring and Sukhothai reduced the areas straight from the kick-off. Another right-wing cross found R.Maques in acres of space and he planted a header past a stranded Siwarak from close range.
The visitors then came close to equalizing three times in the next seven minutes. First following a free-kick, another FREE header just cleared the crossbar. Then a long ball sent J.Baggio racing away down the left and he easily turned inside Chitipat, only to send his shot wide.
Finally, Tunez went down, rolling around in agony as J.Baggio chased another through-ball but Siwarak was alert to the danger and rushed out to clear.
Buriram brought on Jakkaphan for Chaowat in the sixty-sixth minute before Anawin replaced the ineffective Kaio four minutes later.
The home side restored their two goal advantage in the seventy-eighth minute when a left-wing corner was played short to Chitpanya for the midfielder to move inside and send in a low shot which the keeper failed to hold, leaving Tunez a simple tap in.
Buriram were not finished and added a fifth nine minutes from time. Tunez found Diogo wide left with a great long ball. The Brazillian controlled it before looking up and sending over an outrageously perfect cross for Moreira to get up and send a good header into the empty net.
Two OUTSTANDING pieces of skill from Diogo which need to be seen if you possibly can.
With six minutes left Suree replaced Chitipat and deep into stoppage time Moreira was clean through on goal but his weak attempt to lift the ball over the keeper was easily saved.
Perhaps the scoreline flattered Buriram a little as the visitors did create chances, but all in all both teams deserve credit for providing such good entertainment in appalling conditions.
Next up it’s league leaders Muang Thong away on Sunday July 24, 7pm. Although Buriram’s bitter rivals have been slipping a little lately, the Buriram defence will have to improve considerably to cope with the threat of Adisak and Cleiton.
I have been asked to pass on a message from Gilberto Macena which read something along the lines of he would be VERY grateful for any assistance his old friends could give him.