Diogo’s strike four minutes from time gave Buriram a hard-earned, but deserved 2-1 victory away to Ratchaburi.It was Diogo’s second of the match,having given Buriram a twelfth minute lead.
An early second-half equalizer pegged Buriram back and once again chances came and went with alarming regularity.However, Diogo came to the rescue to keep Buriram top of the table.
Ratchaburi have had a good start to the season and it was always going to be a stiff test for Buriram. Ratchaburi are coached by Josep Ferre who was the Director of the Buriram Academy and it’s good to see the likeable Spaniard back in Thailand.We wish him well,apart from one game.
Buriram should have gone ahead after only fifteen seconds. The ball reached Theerathon out on the left and his pin-point cross found Diogo in space but the Brazilian shot wildly over the bar from eight yards.
Ratchaburi hit back in the second minute when Theerathon lost possession in a dangerous area and after a cross was blocked, Tunez had to be alert to turn the ball out for a corner.
In a frantic opening, Buriram created another good chance in the fourth minute.A superb,flowing move ended with Theerathon crossing for Macena to completely miss-hit his shot when well-placed.
Buriram got the goal they were threatening in the twelfth minute.The ball was played out to Macena wide right and he picked out his fellow strike partner with a perfect low cross and Diogo made no mistake from close range.
A minute later Macena got clear and tried to take the ball round the keeper who did enough to thwart Macena and the ball was cleared. Macena caused more mayhem in the sixteenth minute.
Theerathon found him in space down the left and after Macena’s initial sot was blocked,the ball came back to him and his second attempt hit the near post before being cleared.
Jakkraphan then won a free-kick in the twenty-second minute out on the right but Theerathon sent the ball straight at the home keeper.Twelve minutes later Buriram created another good chance.
Narubadin combined well with Macena who got clear down the right flank before crossing for Diogo who sent an acrobatic scissors kick over the bar.Theerathon then sent another free-kick into the arms of a grateful keeper.
Five minutes before the interval Buriram should have increased their lead.Another quick break down the right saw Seul Ki send over an inviting low cross which Diogo contrived to miss completely with the goal gaping in front of him.
An entertaining half with Buriram deserving their lead but it was a fragile lead and Ratchaburi came out for the second-half with all guns blazing.They almost equalized in the opening minute.
A long ball over the top of the Buriram defence saw Ratchaburi get clear. Siwarak managed to get a hand to the resulting shot and the reliable Tunez tidied up in his usual unflappable manner.
Two minutes later the equalizer duly arrived.The dangerous Heberty sent over a good cross which was headed firmly past a helpless Siwarak.Television replays suggested that at least two Ratchaburi players were offside but no flag was forthcoming.
Buriram’s reply was instant and they should have regained the lead in the forty-eighth minute.Diogo and Macena combined superbly before the latter crossed for Naruphol to blaze over the bar from six yards.
That was the fourth time in three games that Naruphol has failed to hit the target when presented with gilt-edged chances. And Buriram were nearly made to pay five minutes later.
Ratchaburi won a corner on the left and when the cross came in, it was headed against the bar and the follow-up went straight to a relieved Siwarak.Naruphol was then replaced by skipper Suchao in the fifty-sixth minute.
On the hour mark the lively Macena ran at the Ratchaburi defence and he was halted by a crude challenge right on the edge of the area, Theerathon hit the resulting free-kick into the wall.
Three minutes later the disappointing Narubodin was replaced by Anawin.Buriram continued to press and another great chance went begging in the seventy-first minute.
A quick break stretched the Ratchaburi defence and the dangerous Macena timed his sideways pass to Theerathon to perfection.However, yet again Theerathon failed to get over the ball which once more flew high over the bar.
Four minutes later Anawin was brought down just outside the right corner of the box.Theerathon struck the free-kick well but the keeper made a routine save by turning the ball over the bar.
After seventy-eight minutes Jakkraphan dribbled into the right side of the area but then simply side-footed the ball straight at the keeper. It was neither a cross or a shot and was a typical example of the lack of conviction being shown by the midfield in front of goal.
Four minutes later Seul Ki was replaced by Sittichok and shortly after Macena got free in the box with only the keeper to beat but his shot was turned away.However, Buriram finally scored a minute later.
The ball was headed back across goal from the left and it reached Jakkraphan, via a defender, out on the right. He laid the ball back to Diogo who finished calmly from fourteen yards to spark wild celebrations.
It really was an excellent finish, a marked contrast to what had gone on before.Buriram then lived dangerously, giving away a number of free-kicks to put pressure on themselves.
The referee aided Ratchaburi’s cause by adding on four extra minutes and actually playing six and a half.However, Buriram held out and just about deserved the three points.
It was good to have Tunez back and Macena once again was a constant threat.However, midfield players really must start taking their chances.The very least they should be doing is working the keeper and not sending shots high and wide.
Still it was a good win against a useful side and Buriram continue to sit proudly at the top of the league.The next three league games are Saturday July 4th Osotspa (H) 18.00, Saturday July 11th Nakhon Ratchasima (A) 19.00 and Wednesday July 15th Bangkok Glass (H) 19.00.