Buriram continued their winning ways with a five goal demolition of TOT, despite being without top scorer Diogo and being reduced to ten men when Seul Ki was shown red for alleged diving.
It was a totally one-sided game and quite frankly Buriram had the opportunity to boost their goal difference even more but spurned a number of good chances. However, it was an excellent performance with Theerathon in particular outstanding in midfield.
Buriram were on the front foot from the off,forcing two early corners. Then in the third minute Jandson got on the end of a Theerathon free-kick but couldn’t get enough on the ball to direct his header on target.
Two minutes later Tunez was inches too high with a header from Suchao’s left-wing corner but it would not have counted as the assistant referee had spotted an offence by the big defender.
Buriram put together a delightful move in the ninth minute with some neat one-touch passing but it was halted by a foul and the free-kick cannoned off the wall to safety. Tunez then headed a Theerathon corner just wide in the twelfth minute.
Three minutes later Buriram were forced to make a change when Suree pulled up clutching his hamstring and he was replaced by Chitipat.This did nothing to stop the flow of Buriram attacks and Seul Ki forced the keeper into a good save,diving to his left,following a left- wing cross in the twenty-sixth minute.
Three minutes later Macena looked certain to score but a defender got in a great block and from the resulting corner Jandson had a free-header which he sent wide of the far-post. The deadlock was finally broken in the thirty-third minute when Buriram were awarded a rather fortunate penalty.
A deep cross from the left cleared the goalmouth and when the ball bounced up, it hit a TOT defender on the arm as he was pressured by Anawin.The assistant referee immediately signalled a penalty and despite lengthy protests by the visitors, Tunez stepped up to calmly send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
Macena almost increased the lead three minutes later when his shot came back off the keeper’s chest but the Brazilian was just beaten to the rebound as the keeper recovered. Macena was giving the TOT defence a torrid time and he created another opening three minutes before the interval.
He made a great run down the left before sending a low cross right across the face of the goal which somehow eluded Jandson and Jakkaphan and the ball went out for a goalkick.
But the reprieve was short-lived as Buriram got their second on the stroke of half-time. Jandson had an effort saved by the keeper and Theerathon sent the corner towards the near-post where a defender,under pressure from Seul Ki, headed the ball across goal for Chitipat to thunder a header into the roof of the net.
There was still time for Tunez to head over the bar from yet another Theerathon corner which would have given the scoreline a more realistic look. However, Buriram were firmly in control and with Macena and Theerathon causing all sorts of problems, more goals looked likely in the second-half.
Straight from the restart Buriram had a great chance to increase their lead. After a flowing move down the left, the ball eventually found Anawin in the right of the penalty area but his shot flew way over the top.
Buriram had an even better chance in the forty-ninth minute when Jakkaphan found space down the right before sending over an inch-perfect cross which picked out Jandson completely unmarked in the box.
The big striker only had to hit the target to score but he sent his header crashing against the underside of the crossbar and the ball was cleared. However the Brazilian made amends four minutes later.
After Korawit had been fouled wide left, Theerathon swung over the free-kick which Jandson headed powerfully down towards the corner of the net. The keeper got a hand to the ball but could not prevent it finding the net.
Buriram went close again in the fifty-ninth minute when Suchao crossed from the left and Seul Ki’s flicked header was narrowly wide of the far post. Things were about to get much worse for the Korean.
He had already received a yellow card and in the sixty-third minute the referee showed him the red card for diving after he’d gone down in the box. It was a very harsh decision as tv replays suggested that there had indeed been contact by the TOT defender.
Three minutes later Jandson got free in the box but he was in two minds whether to pass or shoot and he was closed out. However, Buriram came straight back with a fine solo goal by Macena.
The Brazillian picked the ball up thirty-five yards out and ran at the retreating TOT defence. He was allowed to run into the box, having ghosted past two defenders, before planting a low shot into the net.
Suchao almost got in on the act four minutes later when he collected the ball on the edge of the area but sent his shot narrowly wide. Korawit was then replaced by Nookoolkit as the defender had picked up a knock a little earlier.
Siwarak made his first save of the night in the eighty-first minute when he got down well to save a low,long-range shot. From the resulting throw-out, Buriram broke quickly and Macena crossed for Jandson to head wide.
Seven minutes from time Macena won a corner but it appeared that the Brazilian had a good case for a penalty. Jandson was then replaced by Prakit who almost got through on goal immediately.
It was impossible to tell which team was playing with a man short, such was Buriram’s dominance and a well-deserved fifth goal duly arrived four minutes from time. It was a well-worked and beautifully taken goal.
Jakkaphan crossed from the right and Chitipat deftly flicked the ball on for Tunez, who showing superb anticipation, was on the ball in a flash before coolly rounding the keeper and putting the ball into the empty net.
It had been an excellent performance which could and perhaps should, have yielded more goals. Jandson in particular will be disappointed not to have added to his solitary goal. Still, it does mean that Buriram and Muang Thong are level on points with an identical goal difference with nine games to play. Exciting stuff !
Buriram meet Army United (A)in the League Cup semi-final second-leg on Wednesday October 21st, 7p.m holding a narrow 3-2 advantage. They return to the same ground on Saturday October 24th 8p.m for a league match.