Buriram were looking to bounce back from their defeat by Muang Thong in the League Cup against struggling Sukothai. However, they found themselves a goal down inside 50 seconds and for much of the first-half struggled to find any cohesion in a very disappointing display.
The passing was sloppy at times and they lacked pace and direction. They eventually leveled with Diogo’s header just before the interval and then blitzed the visitors in the second-half with three goals in nine minutes, all by Coelho.
Sukothai pulled one back before Diogo wrapped things up in stoppage time for a 5-2 victory.
This was a must-win game for Buriram and they made the worst possible start when Sukothai were allowed too much time and space down the left and when a low cross came in Pansa made a complete hash of trying to clear and could only help the ball into the net.
Hopefully, it would only be a minor inconvenience and Diogo should have equalized in the 8th minute but sidefooted Narubadin’s low right-wing cross wide of the near-post. Diogo then let fly from thirty yards in the 15th minute but was inches wide.
Three minutes later Coelho had a great chance but shot straight at the keeper from eight yards out. Buriram came even closer in the 24th minute when Korrakot had a low shot cleared off the line following a corner.
Buriram continued to have most of the possession but they were struggling to create clear openings. Coelho went close after 30 minutes when he headed a right-wing corner into the ground, only for the keeper to turn it over the bar.
Finally, Buriram made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute when Seul-Ki slung over a cross from the left for Diogo to head over the keeper. The ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced down and the assistant referee immediately signaled that the ball had crossed the line.
The official was then surrounded by angry Sukothai players and staff, as the referee tried to restore order. One yellow card was shown and a coach sent to the stands. It was a totally unacceptable reaction from the visitors as replays showed that the ball was clearly over the line.
Regardless of this fact, why can’t players get it into their heads that a referee will NEVER change his decision, no matter how much they protest. The solution to the problem is simply yellow card the lot of them.
Buriram brought on Supachock for Rattanakorn for the second-half as they looked to inject more pace into their attacks. They made a great start, taking the lead in the 48th minute. Jakkaphan’s right-wing corner was turned back by Diogo to Korrakot who sent the ball goalwards for Coelho to turn in with a delightful back-flick.
Four minutes later it was three when a quick throw on the right was collected by Coelho in the corner of the penalty area. The Brazilian deftly turned inside his marker before thundering an unstoppable shot past the helpless keeper. It really was a goal of the highest quality.
Coelho then completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute . Diogo was fouled some thirty-five yards out , just right of central. He dusted himself down before smashing a great free-kick against the crossbar.
The ball rebounded to Tunez who sent in a shot which bounced just in front of the keeper who spilled the ball for the inrushing Coelho to slam into the net. It was almost five in the 61st minute when Korrakot’s right-wing corner was met by Seul-Ki with a flick header which the keeper turned away superbly, diving to his right.
Buriram then took off Coelho and sent on Bastos before Sukothai pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute. The lively Baggio, who had been a thorn in Buriram’s side all night, got to the byline down the right before crossing . The first shot was superbly blocked by Pansa but the rebound found Maranhao who made no mistake.
The home side then had two great chances to end an unlikely fight-back in the 74th minute. First, Diogo set up Bastos who made a complete mess of it with only the keeper to beat. Almost immediately, Diogo won a free-kick on the left and found Jakkaphan in space in the area with a lovely low pass only for the skipper to blaze over the bar from ten yards.
Buriram then replaced Korrakot with Anon in the 79th minute before Diogo gave the scoreline a more respectable look with a superb goal in stoppage time. He collected the ball just outside the left side of the area before placing a superbly curled right-foot shot just inside the far-post.
In the end, a fairly comfortable win but there are issues that need addressing. Narubadin and Korrakot operated out wide on the flanks but too often they played the ball backwards or crossed from too deep.
Playing wide, they should be trying to get behind the defence and crossing from the byline. They need to show more confidence and run at defenders. This is something that Supachok does and he really must be in the starting line-up for the rest of the season.
Jakkaphan is still not producing the goods and vice-captain or not, does not warrant a place.
Next up is a stiff test at Chiang Rai in the FA Cup on Wednesday October 18, 7pm. This is followed by a tricky trip to Suphanburi in the league on Sunday, October 22, 7pm.
Victory would leave Buriram needing just three points from their remaining three fixtures to secure the league title.