Buriram went down to a surprise defeat by Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) in a game that was totally devoid of any real quality from either side. Once again Buriram lacked direction and purpose in midfield and the passing at times was simply woeful.
Even the returning Diogo lacked any real spark and Moreira’s finishing was dreadful. He won a very dubious penalty just before half-time and for some reason he was allowed to take the spot-kick which was one of the worst I have witnessed.
Buriram almost fell behind in the first minute when a right-wing corner was headed against the bar with Siwarak beaten. Buriram replied with a Tunez flick at the near-post from a left-wing corner but the ball hit the side- netting.
The home side went close in the sixth minute when following a break down the left, Siwarak had to dive full-length to his left to turn a powerful shot aside.
The keeper was in action again in the twenty-first minute when he punched away a dangerous free-kick from the right following a foul by Koravit.
Korat finally took the lead nine minutes later when Siwarak came out for a cross from the left but failed to make contact and Tagbajum headed into the empty net.
It was no more than Korat deserved but Buriram should have levelled three minutes later. Diogo sent over a great cross from the right and found Moreira completely unmarked in front of goal.
The big striker didn’t know whether to head the ball, control it or chest it down. In the end he did nothing and the chance was lost. A dreadful miss.
Moreira had the chance to make amends shortly after when he got clear down the left following a throw-in but ended up “passing” the ball to a grateful keeper.
A minute before the interval Moreira went down in the area following a collision with a defender. It looked purely accidental but the referee pointed to the spot.
Moreira then proceeded to drag a scuffed shot wide of the left-hand post. It really was a shambolic effort and when the TV cameras panned to Kuhn Newin, the expression on his face told its own story.
Perhaps justice was done but it does not excuse such a poor effort. Tunez should still be taking penalties. Missing a couple should not be a reason to relinquish the responsibility, particularly for a captain.
Buriram took off Chitpanya and brought on Supachok , a move I find puzzling. True, Chitpanya had not exactly set the game alight but Buriram are not playing him in the centre of midfield like they did when he first arrived and made such an impact.
He is capable of directing operations and spreading the play, as well as providing defence-splitting passes.
Buriram began to dominate possession in the second period without creating any real problems for the Korat defence.
However, the visitors came close in the fifty-ninth minute when Diogo floated a ball to the far-post from the right which Moreira did well to turn back for Supachok to see his shot deflected wide for a corner.
Diogo also had a goal-bound shot deflected for a corner before the home side had a great chance to wrap the game up in the sixty-eighth minute. Chitipat was easily beaten down the left and the ensuing low cross was turned over the bar from close range.
Anon then came on for Anawin and Kaio replaced Chitipat a few minutes later. Buriram were unlucky eight minutes from time when Diogo headed Tunez’s excellent cross from the left against the post.
Buriram should have levelled two minutes into stoppage time. Jakkaphan found Moreira free in the box but with the whole goal to aim at, he hit the post. The ball was cleared upfield for Lindemann to outpace Koravit before beating Siwarak with a low shot.
At least the Buriram defender used his head and did not bring Lindemann down. It would have been a certain red card and the game was already lost.
This was another defeat which is hard to take. Despite being far from their best, Buriram had enough chances to win the game. Moreira was the main culprit and he looks nothing like the clinical finisher Buriram thought they were getting.
Kaio’s new “hair do” changed nothing and it is a sad state of affairs when even Diogo appears to have given up the ghost.
The next game is a league match at Ratchaburi on Saturday September 24, 7pm.