Buriram never had to get out of second gear to dispose of a dreadful Sisaket side 3-0. However, Brazilian striker Coelho had a night he will want to forget very quickly, spurning at least FIVE golden opportunities.
In fact he should have had a hat-trick inside ten minutes but he was not alone in his generosity to the visitors. It is no exaggeration to say that Buriram could and should have had 10, so woeful was their defence.
Seul-Ki and Ottesen dropped to the bench with Suchao and Chitipat coming in with Pansa moving to centre-back.
Coelho had a great chance to open the scoring in the 2nd minute when he found space just inside the box but his low shot lacked power and was comfortably saved. Three minutes later the Brazilian had an even better chance when a quick throw on the right left him with only the keeper to beat but Coelho’s shot was straight at him.
In the 7th minute Diogo’s neat pass sent Coelho clear on goal but he dragged a disappointing shot wide. Diogo showed him how it is done in the 15th minute when he collected Coelho’s flick to advance into the right side of the box to coolly finish through the keeper’s legs.
Ten minutes later great work by Diogo down the left saw him pull the ball back for Coelho to volley into the ground and the ball looped over the bar.
Then it was Diogo’s turn to miss out after 31 minutes when he cleverly made space for himself but shot tamely wide of the near post. Coelho then had another chance eight minutes later when he had a clear sight of goal twenty-five yards out but his effort was saved.
Buriram continued to carve out chances at will and Diogo made a great run down the right before crossing to the unmarked Bordin who somehow let the ball go through his legs with the goal at his mercy.
Just before the interval Coelho cut in from the right before firing a woeful shot high and wide.
It was quite remarkable that Buriram found themselves only one goal up, the only consolation being that Sisaket’s attack was just as bad as their defence and were posing no threat whatsoever.
Coelho finally did get the ball in the net in the 52nd minute after being played in by Diogo but was correctly ruled offside. Shortly after Bordin was replaced by Anon.
Buriram did finally increase their lead in the 57th minute. They were awarded a free-kick out on the left which Korrakot floated over to the far-post. Pansa rose to head the ball back across goal where Jakkaphan missed it completely but Diogo met it with a superbly controlled volley to find the net.
Coelho had another chance to redeem himself in the 65th minute when he found himself completely free in the box but sent his shot hopelessly wide. Pansa then made a good run from deep before firing in a typical defender’s shot. Enough said !
Coelho was finally put out of his misery when he was replaced by Supachok in the 70th minute.It was good to see the youngster back following a two-month lay-off.
Diogo then got clear on goal in the 77th minute but with only the keeper to beat failed to get sufficient contact on the ball. Next, the Brazilian played Supachok through on goal but he fired wide.
Buriram finally got a third in the 82nd minute when Diogo sent Anon clear on goal with a superb ball . The midfielder drew the keeper before unselfishly squaring the ball to Supachok to put into the empty net.
So a comprehensive victory but it should have been MANY, MANY more . Buriram will not have an easier game all season and Sisaket are in for long, hard one.
Next up is Bangkok Glass (A) on Wednesday May 3, 7pm.
