Two late goals by Tunez finally broke Chainat’s stubborn resistance to book Buriram a place in the FA Cup Final against arch-rivals Muang Thong. It was not the fluent performance that has been a feature of Buriram’s play in recent weeks and it once again proved how important Diogo is to the team.
The Brazilian was suspended and Buriram struggled to create clear-cut openings. Macena was once again a tireless runner but Diogo’s replacement Sitichok was anonymous and was replaced by Anon at the interval.
Tunez took his chance like a seasoned striker and then tucked away a penalty with his customary ease.Buriram were certainly the better side but the usual pace and zip just wasn’t there. However, it was job done and it gave the country the final everyone wanted.
Buriram made a bright start and Seul- Ki and Theerathon combined well to set up Macena in the third minute but his shot was blocked.Theerathon and Suchao tried their luck with free-kicks but did not really trouble the keeper.The first real opening came in the twelfth minute.
Following a dreadful Chainat defensive mistake, Jakkaphan was left with a clear shooting chance but dragged a weak shot woefully wide.Buriram had claims for a penalty waved aside in the nineteenth minute when Macena was flattened following a neat backheel.
Two minutes later Suchao made a complete hash of a free-kick,allowing Chainat to break quickly and put the ball in the Buriram net.However, the assistant rightly ruled offside, much to Suchao’s relief. Shortly after Theerathon found Macena in the box and the Brazilian laid the ball back for Suchao to send his shot way over the bar.
Buriram had dominated possession but were guilty of giving the ball away far too often and not putting the Chainat defence under any real pressure. In the thirty-eighth minute a good break from the back saw Macena break clear only to be halted by a crude tackle which earned the perpitrator a yellow card.
Four minutes from the interval a long ball out of defence found Theerathon free down the left and he crossed to the far-post for Seul- Ki to lose his footing attempting a volley. Then a lovely move down the right saw a Buriram shot blocked following Macena’s clever backheel.
The ball broke perfectly for Suchao on the edge of the box but the skipper curled his shot wide, with the goal at his mercy.That was certainly the best chance of the game and Buriram were not now having it all their own way as Chainat grew in confidence.
The ineffective Sitichok was replaced by Anon and two minutes into the half Chitipat was brought down outside the right corner of the box. Theerathon curled the free-kick towards the near-post but the keeper made a comfortable save.Chainat were unsettling Buriram’s rythym by conceding a number of free-kicks, which all came to nought.
Siwarak was called into action in the fifty-sixth minute when he dealt confidently with a Chainat free-kick. A minute later Macena was brought down just outside the box and Suchao’s free-kick was deflected for a fruitless corner. Narubadin was replaced by Anawin and shortly after Chitipat went off for Nukoolkit.
Chainat sent a free-kick just over the bar in the seventy-second minute but Siwarak appeared to have it covered. Some good approach play then saw Macena find Seul- Ki four minutes later but the Korean blazed way over the top. Anawin then had a good effort saved by the keeper.
It looked like the game was heading for extra-time when Buriram finally made the breakthrough.Seul- Ki did superbly well to track back and win the ball after a Buriram attack broke down. He then found Anon on the left who crossed into the box. The ball was deflected to Tunez who neatly turned inside a defender before coolly beating the keeper with a low shot into the corner.
It was a finish any striker would have been proud of and it was another demonstration of Tunez’s skills as a footballer, not just a stopper. Chainat poured forward in search of an equalizer and deep into stoppage time Buriram caught them on the break.
Macena was sent racing clear and as he attempted to round the keeper he was brought down and the penalty was a formality. Up stepped Tunez to slot the ball home and there was no time for the game to restart. Not a classic performance but given Buriram’s programme in recent weeks , it was understandable.
So it’s party time at Thunder Castle on Sunday when Saraburi are the visitors, kick-off 6pm. I’m sure the Buriram faithful will turn out in force to give their heroes the reception they deserve when they receive the Championship Trophy.