Buriram moved back to the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win at Army,whilst fierce rivals Muang Thong could only manage a 1-1 draw at rock-bottom TOT. This was despite the TOT keeper gifting Teerasil the opener with a calamitous mistake.
Buriram’s game was a strange affair, particularly the first-half. Army had more of the possession but found themselves 3-0 down. It could easily have been six as Buriram carved out chances at will.
Following the blood and thunder of the sem-final, it was all rather tame as both sides played at a slow tempo. In the cup games it was Army who started strongly but this time Buriram made the brighter opening.
Buriram forced a couple of early corners and from the second in the third minute, Macena fired in a shot which hit former Buriram favourite Hirano on the arm and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
It was a little harsh on the Japanese as he had crossed his arms over his chest and made no movement towards the ball. Despite the protests, Tunez stepped up once again to coolly send the keeper the wrong way and give Buriram the start they wanted.
Army responded in the sixth minute when static Buriram defending allowed them a sight of goal but the danger was cleared. Five minutes later Buriram almost increased their lead following a right-wing Suchao corner.
The skipper’s cross found Tunez but the big defender’s powerful header was headed off the line. The rebound went straight to Diogo who failed to get over the bouncing ball and sent his shot high into the crowd.
Buriram then had a lucky escape in the eighteenth minute when Chitipat appeared to bundle an Army attacker over in the box but the referee waved play on. Buriram almost took full advantage in the twenty-second minute.
Theerathon’s left-wing corner was headed onto the post and the ball came back to Diogo who headed wide when he should have done better. However, Buriram came back to score a superb second goal two minutes later.
Macena made a great run down the left before cutting the ball back low across the area. Diogo showed great awareness to let the ball run to the unmarked Seul Ki who calmly side-footed the ball into the corner of the net.
Unbelievably, Buriram went three up in the twenty-sixth minute to leave the Buriram faithful in raptures. Following a move down the right, Diogo showed great determination and strength to win the ball in the box and get in a shot which hit a defender’s leg to loop over the stranded keeper.
A little fortunate,yes, but Diogo deserved his slice of luck for sheer persistence. Suchao then received a yellow card shortly after for a needless challenge in the centre of the pitch when there was absolutely no danger.
This is still something a number of Buriram players are guilty of and which will eventually result in unwanted suspensions. Whilst on the subject of discipline, it’s good to see the change in Theerathon. In the past, he was often liable to get himself booked or sent off. Now, he shows great responsibility and just gets on with playing football.
Seul Ki then had another chance in the thirty-first minute but hesitated and his shot was blocked. A minute later Macena cut inside before sending in a shot which produced a good save from the keeper.
Two minutes later Siwarak had to make his first save, diving low to his right to turn the ball round the post for a corner. Back came Buriram in the thirty-ninth minute and great work by Diogo down the left saw him send over a good cross which only just evaded the well-placed Macena.
Shortly after, Macena got in a shot which was slightly mis-hit but still forced the keeper to turn it away for a corner. Half-time was reached with no further action of note and Buriram went in knowing the game was practically won.
This was despite Army having plenty of the ball, but it was Buriram who had the cutting-edge. Buriram brought on Nookoolkit for the second-half, looking to strengthen the midfield. Army started brightly and Hirano was just too high with a fierce shot.
In the fiftieth minute Diogo was fouled as he went through but he stayed on his feet to get in a shot which drew a save from the keeper. Good to see Diogo not go down and in fact his attitude was first-class throughout the game.
Buriram had the ball in the net in the fifty-third minute when Suchao got up well to power a header into the net. However, the referee awarded a free-kick for a foul on the goalkeeper when it was a perfectly good “goal”.
Two minutes later,following a delightful Buriram move, Macena was played in only for the keeper to block his low shot. Army then broke down the left and the cross was headed onto the post before being cleared.
Buriram did not escape for long however. In the fifty-eighth minute a long ball was played into the Buriram box and it was pulled back for Thanakorn to beat Siwarak at his near-post with a powerful shot.
Suchao was immediately replaced by Narabudin as Buriram decided to bolster the defence. To be fair, Buriram were not sitting back and Macena got through to try and lift the ball over the keeper but his attempt was blocked.
Buriram knew a fourth goal would finally kill Army off and it arrived in the seventieth minute. Diogo attacked down the left and was fouled. Once again the Brazilian stayed on his feet only to be brought down again.
Theerathon sent over the cross for Diogo to send a flicked,downward header into the corner of the net and it was game over. Shortly after,Theerathon was replaced by Prakit, following a slight knock but it looked like Buriram were just being cautious.
Army were totally deflated by now and Buriram saw out the remaining time without any real problems. A great result and with Muang Thong only drawing, Buriram have a two point lead. However, there are some difficult fixtures ahead, starting with Josep Ferre’s Ratchaburi on Wednesday October 28th 7pm at Thunder Castle.
TOT showed that there are no easy games but the fact remains that Buriram have the title in their own hands now. The togetherness of this team will be their biggest asset in the final eight games.