Buriram went back to the top of the table with a hard-fought victory over newly-promoted Sukhothai. Anawin’s early strike was enough to take the three points but they were made to work by a spirited performance by the home side.
Buriram now face arch-rivals Muang Thong at Thunder Castle on Wednesday with a narrow two point lead over the third-placed side. They will have to up their game considerably if they want to stop Muang Thong from recording their first- ever victory over Buriram.
Buriram nearly took the lead in the second minute when Theerathon’s dipping free-kick from the right was only just kept out by the keeper. Two minutes later Buriram carved out a great chance when Narubadin pulled the ball back from the right to the completely unmarked Jakkaphan whose weak shot was almost turned in by Suchao’s cheeky back-heel.
Jakkaphan’s finishing is a real concern and without a prolific striker, the midfield need to be taking chances when they come along. Sukhothai were lively on the break and won several corners, one of which was headed over the Buriram bar.
After twenty minutes a swift break out of defence saw Weslley run at the home defence down the right but he was halted at the expense of a fruitless corner. Three minutes later Siwarak was forced to make a smart save at his near post following a dangerous counter-attack.
Buriram made the breakthrough in the twenty-fifth minute when Seul-Ki was fouled out on the right. The Korean showed quick-thinking by jumping straight up and threading a perfect ball through for Anawin to run on to and beat the keeper with a well-placed shot.
The home team complained about the free-kick being taken so quickly but the referee was correct to allow play to continue. Too often teams are prevented from taking quick free-kicks by opponents standing over the ball and it is something that should be stamped out.
Shortly after, Nattapol recieved a yellow card for a needless, rash challenge near the halfway line, an area where most of Buriram’s yellow cards are obtained. Weslley was causing the home defence a few problems with his aggressive, direct running and he almost teed up Yong but the cross was blocked.
Buriram almost increased their lead in first-half stoppage time when Tunez met a deep corner with his head and when a defender hacked the ball away, it struck the big defender and rebounded onto the crossbar.
So, a narrow lead at the interval and Sukhothai were far from out of it and a second goal was badly needed.
Buriram pushed forward in the early stages of the second-half and Theerathon set up Jakkaphan with a low free-kick but the shot lacked power. Then Weslley made a surging run down the right before pulling the ball back from the touchline for Suchao to fire into the net.
The celebrations were cut short by an assistant’s flag who signalled that the ball had gone out of play. Replays suggested that he’d got it wrong but it was a very tight call. Anawin then received a yellow card for yet another pointless challenge.
On the hour mark a good through ball set Yong away but he was forced wide and the ball went out for a corner. The cross was half-cleared to Suchao but the skipper fired way over the top. Five minutes later Anawin was replaced by the highly-rated youngster Supachok.
In the seventy-third minute a good ball in from the left found Suchao in space but his first-time effort was neither a cross or a shot and it flew wide. The largely anonymous Yong was then replaced by Kaio shortly after.
The home side broke down the right in the seventy-fourth minute and Siwarak was grateful to see a header fly straight into his arms. Buriram almost wrapped the game up ten minutes from time when Weslley made progress down the left before his pull-back found Kaio and the Brazilian’s fierce shot brought a great save from the keeper.
Two minutes later the home stopper was at it again when he somehow kept out an excellent effort from Suchao and shortly after Seul-Ki was brought down in the box but the referee refused to award the clear penalty.
Narubadin and Theerathon then both received yellow cards but the latter was extremely unlucky to be adjudged guilty of handball. Buriram held out without any further alarms to go top of the table.
It was a deserved victory but the lack of goals is a real concern and Buriram could be up against it on Wednesday if guilt-edged chances continue to be spurned. Hopefully, Koravit will be fit to steady a defence which can be caught ball-watching ,something that Cleiton and co will surely punish.