Buriram strolled to another easy three points as they won 5-1 at struggling Sisaket. They were helped by a very poor Sisaket defence and Coelho scored the easiest hat-trick of his career.
Buriram had the ball in the net after 45 seconds but Supachok was centimetres offside. A good decision.
However, they didn’t have to wait long to take the lead when Diogo headed them in front in the 2nd minute. Ratthanakorn swung over a right-wing corner and Coelho rose well to get in a good header despite being held and Diogo dived in at the far-post to make sure.
The ball was probably going just wide and Diogo showed good anticipation. This was more like the Diogo of old and he was a constant threat throughout the game.
Coelho raced through on goal in the 12th minute but shot wide with only the keeper to beat. Buriram then increased their lead four minutes later with one of the most bizarre goals you will ever see.
The ball was cleared forward out of defence and Coelho was in a race with a Sisaket defender to get to the ball first. The home player won the race but inexplicably took the ball past his own goalkeeper who then brought the defender crashing to the ground, leaving Coelho with an empty net !
Amazing and it became three in the 27th minute. A long ball forward was met first-time by Diogo but his effort cannoned off the keeper to leave Coelho with the simplest of finishes.
Tunez almost got in on the act in the 34th minute but his excellent header from Ratthanakorn’s free-kick produced a fine save from the keeper.
Sisaket then pulled a goal back out of the blue in the 37th minute when a static Buriram defence allowed Jandakorn to latch onto a free-kick and turn it past a helpless Siwarak.
Buriram then restored their three goal advantage in first-half stoppage time. Diogo raced clear and beat the keeper but his effort was cleared off the line at the expense of a left-wing corner.
Diogo took it short to Seul-Ki who returned the ball to him and Diogo then picked out Coelho at the far-post with a lovely cross and the three-yard finish was a formality.
Buriram continued where they had left off and almost got a fifth in the 54th minute. Diogo found Coelho who picked out the overlapping Narubadin down the right with a lovely ball. The midfielder took a touch before thumping a fierce shot against the crossbar.
The woodwork came to the home side’s rescue again in the 56th minute when another quick break down the left saw Anon send an excellent low shot against the post and Supachok blazed the rebound over the bar.
Sisaket were then gifted a way back into the game in the 59th when Chitipat gave away a penalty with a woeful challenge. Fortunately for him, Siwarak got down well low to his right to block the shot before grabbing the loose ball.
Buriram then replaced Anon with Suchao and Supachok with Jakkaphan and to me it was no coincidence that Buriram lost their cutting edge. They created hardly anything after that until the 88th minute when Diogo collected a through ball before galloping clear and planting a low shot into the corner of the net. A clinical finish and a welcome sight.
Although Sisaket are a poor side, it was good to see Buriram create so many chances. Anon and Supachok are essential to the side and should be given an extended run. They are young and talented and they need to be made to feel they are first-team regulars.
As stated before, Diogo looked back to his best and once again the team looked full of goals.
Next game is a tricky one at home on Wednesday September 20, 8pm against Bangkok Glass.
