Buriram got the three points they needed to retain their Premier League crown in an entertaining encounter at the Leo Stadium. Bangkok Glass played their part as they looked to halt Buriram’s title charge. However, Buriram proved too good for them as they surged to their thirteenth consecutive league victory.
Buriram showed their intent from the start and Diogo had a low shot saved in the first minute.Three minutes later they won a corner on the left and Suchao’s cross was headed firmly down and into the net by Koravit. Just what Buriram wanted as it meant Glass would have to come at them to strengthen their bid for third place.
They did exactly that and created a half chance in the tenth minute but Buriram cleared the danger.Buriram were looking to hit the home side on the break and in the fourteenth minute Diogo crossed low from the right but Macena shot just over from twelve yards.
Shortly after a dangerous Theerathon free kick from the right was headed over his own crossbar by a desperate defender. Much of the play was in midfield with neither side creating clear-cut chances though there was plenty to admire about the approach play of both sides.
In the thirty-second minute a swift break out of defence saw Macena run clear but the keeper closed him down well. Macena was forced to play the ball left for Diogo but the striker’s low shot was cleared off the line. Seul Ki was then shown a yellow card for a high boot and Diogo followed him into the referee’s book for giving the official some unwanted advice !
Three minutes before the interval, Glass levelled. Buriram failed to clear a cross and when Tunez’s last-ditch tackle missed its mark, the ball fell for Toti to score from close range despite Siwarak getting a hand to it. A set-back, but this Buriram side have so much self-belief that it was just a minor inconvenience.
Deep into stoppage time, Diogo was fouled wide down the left and Theerathon swung over the free-kick for Seul Ki to rise and power a header beyond a helpless keeper to restore Buriram’s advantage. Buriram certainly deserved to be ahead and Bangkok Glass were clearly rattled after the elation of their equalizer.
Buriram almost made the perfect start to the second period when Diogo set Macena free but the Brazilian’s attempted chip was held by the keeper.Buriram continued to press and carved out a great opportunity in the fifty-fourth minute.Some delightful passing down the right saw a low coss find Diogo completely unmarked in front of goal.
The striker did everything right but the keeper somehow just managed to get a faint touch on the ball with his boot but it was enough to deflect the shot wide for a corner.Theerathon’s cross evaded everyone but when Koravit returned the ball into the box,it found Tunez who controlled it before netting with consumate ease.
That was the killer blow and it was going to be a long way back for Bangkok Glass but to their credit they set about trying to reduce the defecit. However, it was Buriram who created the next chance on the hour. Diogo collected the ball on the right before cutting inside to fire in a low shot which was saved by the keeper.
Two minutes later Buriram broke down the left and when the cross came in Diogo headed wide. Shortly after Narubadin came on for Theerathon as Buriram looked to shore up the midfield. Macena was not having the best of nights and in the fifty-ninth minute Diogo broke down the right before pulling the ball back for his strike partner to shoot over the bar.
A minute later Diogo found Narubadin wide left and he turned inside before firing in a shot which was inches too high. Macena was then replaced by Anon as Buriram decided to hang onto what they had and they also had one eye on Wednesday’s cup semi-final.
However, Buriram did get the ball in the net again in the seventy-eighth minute only for Diogo to be denied by the assistant’s offside flag. With ten minutes to go Seul Ki was replaced by Chaowat and shortly after Glass had the ball in the net but it was clearly offside.
Siwarak made a smart save four minutes from time and Glass hit the crossbar deep into stoppage time which could have given the scoreline a more flattering look for the home side. As the final whistle blew, the celebrations began as Buriram were warmly congratulated by the home players and staff.
So Champions again and it has been a remarkable season.At the beginning everyone was wondering where the goals were going to come from but the Diogo-Macena partnership has developed into the most deadly in the league. Tunez has been the rock on which a mean defence has been founded.
Seul Ki has developed into an outstanding midfield player and Theerathon has matured almost beyond recognition. He was always a skillful player but now he is completely focussed on playing football and not getting involved in vendettas. Siwarak has also done everything that has been asked of him, often making crucial saves despite long periods of inactivity.
Suchao has been an inspirational captain. He has been so consistent in the vital midfield holding role and also has come up with important goals. There is no doubt who is the boss on the field. But it has been a team effort and every single player has played their part.
When it was so tight at the top and our “friends” in Bangkok were doing plenty of talking, Buriram just got on with the job, taking one game at a time and for that the coaching staff deserve full credit. There is still plenty still to do. The FA Cup and remaining unbeaten are the next targets.