Buriram went down for the second time this season to bitter rivals Muang Thong but they only have themselves to blame. They were in total control in the first-half following a superb Diogo goal only to concede a soft equalizer with the final kick of the half.
It was far more even in the second period but dreadful marking allowed the home side to take a two goal lead. Anon pulled one back after Tunez’s late penalty was saved but it was too little , too late.
Once again the defensive line-up was changed and it is impossible to work as a unit with constant changes of personnel. Twenty-nine goals have been conceded, four more than the whole of last season.
Also the insistence of playing Kaio is a mystery as his only consistent contribution is giving free-kicks away.Moreira continues to look out of place and Diogo again showed where he really belongs, in the penalty area, with a very well-taken goal.
Despite recent wins, Buriram’s defensive weaknesses were ruthlessly exploited, as was feared.
Buriram started brightly and should have taken the lead in the seventh minute when following neat interplay, the unmarked Jakkaphan fired way over the bar from fourteen yards.
Muang Thong responded with a quick break down the right four minutes later and Suree turned the resulting cross towards his own goal but the alert Siwarak got down well to make the save.
Buriram took the lead with a lovely goal in the seventeenth minute. A flowing move down the left saw Korakott send over a great cross for Diogo to rise and plant an excellent header into the corner of the net.
The home side were clearly rattled as Buriram took control with the impressive Chitpanya once again pulling the strings. It was he who was involved in a fine Buriram move in the twenty-seventh minute when he elected to shoot from a tight angle when a cross might have been the better option.
Two minutes later Kaio had a great chance to increase the lead ,following a free-kick, but his weak header posed no threat to the Muang Thong goal.
Buriram continued to dominate but conceded a sloppy equalizer right on the stroke of half-time. When the ball came into the box, three defenders had the chance to clear before Chanathip seized on the ball to find the far corner of the net, with Siwarak helpless.
Sometimes, a good old-fashioned boot into the crowd is required, this was one of those occasions. It was going to be interesting to see how Buriram would respond to this set-back.
The answer was badly as the home side went in front in the fifty-third minute. When a left-wing cross was laid back to Sarach in acres of space, he buried his shot past a helpless Siwarak.
Buriram should have levelled four minutes later when the home defence half-cleared and Diogo headed the resulting cross on for Suree to send his shot high over the bar.
They had another chance shortly after when Moreira headed a left-wing cross on , only for Diogo to send his header wide. Jakkaphan was then replaced by Anon in the sixty-seventh minute.
Muang Thong appeared to make the game safe in the seventy-seventh minute when Cleiton rose to head a right-wing cross beyond Siwarak. There were two defenders in the vicinity but their positioning was such that it was impossible for them to attack the ball.
Eight minutes from time, Diogo’s frustration boiled over and he was fortunate to receive only a yellow card following a clash near the touchline. Six minutes later Buriram were handed a possible lifeline.
They were awarded a penalty when the referee adjudged that Diogo had been pushed as he rose to meet a left-wing cross. Tunez stepped up but sent a weak shot to the keeper’s right for him to turn aside , only for Anon to net the rebound.
Deep into stoppage time a flowing Buriram right-wing move saw Diogo take a return pass in the area before flashing the ball across the face of the goal and it only needed the merest of touches but none were forthcoming. Perhaps he should’ve elected to shoot himself.
So disappointment for the travelling Buriram faithful, and truthfully Buriram were hard done-by. But the harsh reality is that you can’t concede cheap goals against top teams and expect to get away with it.
Also when you are carrying players who are obviously not up to the required standard then you will ultimately pay the price.
Koravit sees a specialist this week and let’s hope he gets the green light to return. He has been a BIG miss. It is also believed that Seul-Ki is back in training which would be welcome news indeed.
Next up is BB-CU at home in the league on Saturday July 30, 6pm.
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