After a dire first-half, Buriram finally managed to string some passes together and two goals in as many minutes gave them a comfortable 2-0 victory. Supachok took his chance well before setting up Diogo for a simple finish.
The home side had more of the possession in the first-half but never really threatened the Buriram defence. The defending champions on the other hand looked anything but as they continually gave the ball away by humping long balls forward.
Praweenwat was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty in the 11th minute following a clumsy challenge and indeed was lucky not be dismissed in the 19 minute after a dreadful tackle. He is something of a liability and I believe Bangkok Glass were more than happy to allow him to join Buriram on loan.
Korrakot received a yellow card for a needless challenge in the 25th minute and it wasn’t until the 36th minute that Buriram had a shot on target. Diogo chased what appeared to be a lost cause down the left but the keeper made a complete hash of it leaving Diogo to shoot from a tight angle. Unfortunately a covering defender got back to head the ball clear.
Four minutes later Chainat had their one and only chance when following a cross from the right, an overhead kick saw the ball fly narrowly wide.
Just before the interval Buriram were inches from taking the lead when a defensive error allowed Diogo to get clear and lob the keeper but the ball bounced agonizingly just too high.
A big improvement was needed if Buriram were not going to drop points and thankfully, that improvement duly arrived. Buriram began knocking the ball about on the deck which created openings for the forwards.
The first arrived in the 48th minute when Diogo held the ball up well before setting up Ratthanakorn to flash a low shot narrowly wide.
The same two players were involved in the build up to the opening goal in the 54th minute and it was Rattanakorn who picked out Supachok and the youngster calmly sent the ball beyond the keeper. A good finish.
Two minutes later it was two. Jakkaphan picked up the ball wide right before turning the ball inside in the direction of Supachok. The keeper rushed out and got to the ball first but it rebounded off Supachok to leave him in the clear. Supachok then unselfishly squared the ball for Diogo to apply the simplest of finishes in front of an open goal.
Buriram were very close to a third in the 59th minute when Diogo’s twenty-yard free-kick bounced off the crossbar. They did have the ball in the net in the 68th minute after good work by Edgar but the Brazilian had strayed offside. He was then replaced by Samson.
Praweenwat picked up a yellow card in the 72nd minute after he had given the ball away in a dangerous position. A second substitution followed when Supachai came on for Ratthanakorn two minutes later.
A brilliant ball from Diogo sent Samson racing clear down the left in the 78th minute but he delayed his shot too long and it was deflected wide. Buriram made their final substitution in 82nd minute, bringing on Anon for Supachok.
Three minutes later a glorious run by Diogo saw him burst clear only to be felled from behind in the D. His free-kick was blocked by the wall and that was just about the end of the action.
So a comfortable win in the end and indeed a thoroughly deserved one, particularly after the second-half performance. One puzzling thing to emerge was the decision of the tv company to make Jakkaphan the man-of-the-match. He contributed very little and regardless of that fact, Diogo was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch. Very odd.
Buriram are back at the Chang Arena on Friday, March 2 when newly-promoted Prachuap are the visitors. Kick-off is 8pm.