It took a fortunate 92nd minute winner from Junsoo to give Buriram a deserved 2-1 victory over Chonburi at the Chang Arena. It looked like Buriram’s wastefulness in front of goal was going to cost them before the Korean came up with his first goal for the club.
There was no Tunez or Edgar, presumably both being held back ahead of the important Champions League clash with Guangzhou Evergrande at Thunder Castle on Tuesday.
Buriram had the chance to make another dream start in the 3rd minute when Jakkaphan found himself in acres of space in the area but he elected to try an unconvincing chip which hit the top of the bar.
Diogo then got free down the right in the 10th minute and sent over a dangerous low cross but there was no-one in the area to take advantage. Five minutes later the move was repeated but this time the cross was deflected goalwards by a defender and the keeper did well to turn the ball round his near-post.
Not to be denied, Buriram did take the lead in the 18th minute and it was that man Diogo once again. Supachok sent over a deep cross from the left and Suchao rose to challenge for the ball which dropped just in front of a defender. The skipper was quick to put him under pressure and when the ball broke loose, the inrushing Diogo did the rest. It was a true poacher’s goal and showed what an instinctive predator the Brazilian is.
It was now all Buriram as they played the ball around quickly, denying Chonburi any significant possession. It was almost two in the 27th minute when Supachok progressed down the left before checking and moving inside and firing in an excellent shot from twenty-five yards which brought a great save from the keeper.
A minute later, Diogo beat the offside trap to burst clear down the right before trying to pick-out Suchao but the merest touch by a defender was enough to deflect the ball away to safety.
Neat interplay between Diogo and Supachok in the 36th minute saw the Brazilian get clear down the right once again but his cross was turned behind for a fruitless corner.
It had been a dominant first-half display by Buriram, with Siwarak being merely an interested spectator. However, one goal is never enough as was to be proved in the second-half.
Buriram carried on where they left-off and Korrakot sent over a lovely left-wing cross in the 46th minute. Diogo rose well to send in a powerful header which unfortunately flew straight at the goalkeeper.
The home side received a warning in the 50th minute when Jakkaphan gave the ball away deep in his own half and the resulting cross from the right was scrambled away. They did not heed the warning and Chonburi levelled in the 53rd minute. Again, the ball was worked down the right and the low cross was neatly turned back to Kroekrit lurking just outside the area and he sent a firm, low shot into the corner of the net.
The finish was excellent, but the ball should never have got that far.
Buriram then moved Junsoo into midfield and as in a previous game, this made the home side vulnerable down their left-flank. Chonburi were now full of confidence and tried to exploit this weakness at every opportunity.
The first change came in the 61st minute when Anon came on for Suchao’
Buriram came close in the 72nd minute when Junsoo collected the ball in the right of the area and sent in a low shot which was deflected for a corner. He had an even better chance a minute later when he beat the offside trap but somehow got the ball stuck between his feet and the defence cleared.
Back came Buriram and this time Anon had a clear sight of goal in the 74th minute but the keeper just got a finger to his low shot to turn it round the post. From the resulting corner, Diogo got in a good header which was somehow cleared off the line.
Buriram then made a second change with Sasalak replacing the largely ineffective Korrakot. The game was held up in the 80th minute when Pansa accidentally clashed heads with a Chonburi forward. He received running repairs and was able to continue after having the wound bandaged up.
The home side had a chance to restore their lead a minute later when good work by Supachok on the left saw the ball reach Anon in the right of the area but he fired wide of the near-post.
Chonburi appeared to have settled for a point and it was now Buriram who were asking the questions. A great long ball from Pansa set Supachok free but the cross was turned behind for a corner on the right. Sasalak’s inswinger was met by Diogo but he couldn’t get enough on his header to direct it on goal.
Praweenwat then picked up a deserved yellow card for an unpleasant challenge on Marclei. However, the Chonburi striker was perhaps fortunate to be still on the pitch as he had been involved in several unacceptable incidents previously.
The game then moved into stoppage time and the crowd erupted in the 92nd minute. Sasalak sent a long ball forward down the left for Diogo to outmuscle a defender to give himself time to look up and lay the ball back for Junsoo. The midfielder’s initial effort was way off target but the ball hit a defender and came straight back to him and he made no mistake the second time.
Fortunate? Yes. Deserved? Again, yes. This was a game Buriram should have had sewn up long before. The standard of finishing by the midfield players is simply not good enough and they have to be more positive and clinical when chances arrive. Buriram have scored 17 goals and Diogo has 11 ! No other player has yet managed to score twice.
This is a major concern and something that must be rectified.
Next match sees Buriram welcome group leaders Guangzhou Evergrande to the Chang Arena in the Champions League on Tuesday, April 3, 6pm. It would be good to see a large crowd helping Buriram take an important step to qualifying for the knock-out stages.
It will NOT be easy !