Buriram are through to the League Cup quarter-finals but turned in a totally unconvincing display against Kasetsart FC who are two leagues below them. In fact the home side were reduced to ten men in the thirteenth minute but still Buriram could not turn their superiority into goals.
Kasetsart deserve huge credit for their battling performance as they defended in numbers to frustrate their illustrious visitors. Buriram had their chances but failed to take them and in fact had to wait until the seventy-sixth minute to make the game completely safe.
In all fairness, Siwarak had practically nothing to do but it has to be a concern that Buriram failed to put their lowly opponents to the sword. Buriram gave Brazilian Dos Santos his debut in midfield , though he is only available for cup matches. It was difficult to assess his potential in this game, so the jury is still out.
Buriram made the expected positive start and took the lead in the thirteenth minute with a Diogo penalty. Chaowat’s right-wing corner was headed on to the far-post for Diogo to head goalwards only for the ball to be turned away by a defender’s hand.
The referee immediately pointed to the spot and issued the unfortunate offender with a red card. It was a little harsh as it appeared that the ball was not certain to find the net and it left the home side with a mountain to climb.
Usual penalty “king” Tunez allowed Diogo to score his fiftieth Buriram goal as he sent the keeper the wrong way with a low shot into the left-hand corner. Four minutes later Diogo was through and after he was sent tumbling to the ground in the box he looked somewhat puzzled to see the referee wave play on.
Sathaporn then picked up an unnecessary yellow card in the twenty-fourth minute and a minute later Buriram should have increased their lead . Chitipat made a good run down the left and he found Anawin completely unmarked in the area but the midfielder’s first touch was very poor and the eventual shot was blocked.
Anawin had a chance to make amends on the half-hour mark when he was through on goal but his powerful shot was well-saved by the keeper who then blocked Anawin’s follow up.
Five minutes before the interval a deep left-wing cross found Supachok but he volleyed over the bar. The youngster then had the ball in the net in stoppage time but was correctly adjudged offside.
Whilst Buriram were in no danger of being pegged back, it was disappointing to go in at half-time only one up. Improvement was required.
Buriram brought on Narubadin for Anawin and Diogo almost got the second-half off to spectacular start in the fiftieth minute when a deep left wing cross was headed on for the Brazilian to connect with a superb overhead-kick but the ball struck a defender full in the chest.
Three minutes later Diogo cut in from the left before unleashing a shot which brought a great save from the keeper. It was Diogo again on the hour mark when he collected Narubadin’s low cross before turning superbly to send his shot inches too high.
Kaio was introduced in the sixty-fifth minute at the expense of Sathaporn and a minute later he was flagged offside as he tried to get on the end of Chaowat’s free-kick, the ball going straight through into the net.
Buriram finally added a second in the seventy-sixth minute when Chaowat’s right-wing corner was met by Tunez at the near-post and the big defender made no mistake with an excellent header.
Eight minutes from time , Diogo fed Supachok who brought the ball down cleverly before firing in a shot which brought an excellent save from the over-worked goalkeeper.
Shortly after Tunez was shown a yellow card for a completely needless pull-back and Diogo joined him in the referee’s book in stoppage time following an unpleasant fracas.
Not a night for Buriram to remember but job done I suppose.
(Dos Santos)
Next up is a trip to Suphanburi for a league match on Saturday July 9, 7pm.