Buriram let two points slip as they struggled to break down Thai Port in a game they dominated even when down to ten men. The reaction of the home team’s coaching staff at the final whistle said it all as they celebrated wildly, having held out for a 0-0 draw.
A number of good chances went begging before Diogo was dismissed for a second yellow twenty minutes from time. Add to that a potentially serious injury to the dangerous Supachok , it was a night Buriram will want to forget as Muang Thong march on.
Buriram were unchanged apart from Pansa coming in for Chitipat and started brightly. They should have taken the lead in the 8th minute when Suchao played Coelho in but the big striker sent a low shot just wide of the post with only the keeper to beat.
Diogo was coming in for some heavy punishment and was not getting any protection from the referee. It’s disappointing to see a team target a player like this and there is little doubt that it contributed to Diogo’s eventual sending off.
Buriram had the ball in the net in the 13th minute when Seu-Ki beat the offside trap to get clear in the right side of the area. He unselfishly squared the ball for Coelho to fire into the empty net but the Brazilian had inexplicably strayed offside.
It really was poor play as all Coelho had to do was stay behind Seul-Ki and in fact Coelho was caught offside on numerous occasions throughout the match.
Suchao was shown a yellow card for a reckless tackle in the 19th minute as was Diogo on the half-hour mark after becoming involved in one of those stupid tussles whilst waiting for a corner to be taken.
Siwarak up to now had been a mere spectator but was forced into action in the 35th minute,diving low to his left to turn the ball round the post. Port had another chance a minute later when a corner was headed on to leave a free header which was wide.
So a half that Buriram had dominated without really getting out of second gear but they did have to contend with some heavy tackling by the home side which made it hard to find any rhythm.
Buriram were desperately unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 47th minute when Seul-Ki burst into the box before squaring to Jakkaphan whose low shot came back off the post. The ball went straight to Ratthanakorn who blazed wildly over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
It got worse for the midfielder a minute later when Diogo found Jakkaphan who then crossed low only for Ratthanakorn to completely miskick when it would have been easier to score.
Another chance went begging in the 49th minute when Diogo turned sharply in the box , only to shoot tamely straight at the keeper. Again, Siwarak was pretty much unemployed but he was forced into a great save from a header following a right-wing cross in the 54th minute.
Ratthanakorn was finally put out of his misery in the 58th minute when he was replaced by Narubadin.Two minutes later Diogo got clear with just the keeper to beat but he elected to try and dink the ball over his head and was too high.
A more convential finish should have been the order of the day.
Diogo got clear again in the 62nd minute but his low cross was turned behind for another fruitless corner. Ottesen then received a yellow card following a trip.
Buriram were reduced to ten men in the 70th minute when Diogo rashly extracted his own retribution on his marker with a heavy challenge in the Port half. It was a stupid tackle which left the referee with little option but to dismiss him.
However, the official was partly responsible for failing to put a stop to the punishment Diogo was taking. Buriram then replaced Suchao with Supachai after 74 minutes before their night got even worse when Supachok was stretchered off to be replaced by Bordin four minutes from time.
Buriram kept searching for a winner as the home side sat back, content with a point.
It was a game Buriram should have won at a canter but they failed to make the most of the chances they created. Once again, Coutinho was an unused substitute and this was a time where his direct running could have caused problems for an “uncompromising” defence.
It is to be hoped that Supachok’s injury is not serious, though he will have time to recover as we head into the break for internationals. The next game is Muang Thong at home on Monday, April 3 at 7pm which Diogo will MISS !