As expected, Buriram easily disposed of minnows Vongchavalitkul University in the FA Cup in a totally one-sided game. However, it was the return of goal-machine Diogo that really mattered and the Brazilian did not disappoint. Yes, the opposition were totally out-classed but what was significant is the effect Diogo had on the rest of the team.
Suddenly, set-pieces were no longer the main threat as Diogo’s intelligent runs and lightning pace showed just how much he had been missed. He scored a hat-trick and could easily have doubled that as his teammates revelled in the luxury of not having to hump aimless long balls upfield.
Buriram could have scored many more so it is pointless doing a full match report. I will just run through the goals that did go in and add that full credit should go to the University side for never stopping trying and never resorting to foul tactics.
Buriram took the lead in the eighth minute when Chaowat sent a diagonal ball into the box which was headed against the bar, leaving Kaio with the simplest of free headers.
It took another twelve minutes for the second to arrive when a left-wing corner was headed on for Tunez to score with a free-header. Three minutes later it was three .
Diogo was brought down after a mazy run and when the free-kick was delivered into the box , Tunez headed back across goal for the onrushing Kaio to head home. Unfortunately, Kaio ended up being tangled up in the net which led to him being replaced by Yong shortly after.
On the half-hour Buriram added a fourth and it was a goal Buriram fans had waited nearly four months to see. Anawin set Yong away down the right and his perfect low cross was met by the diving Diogo to send his header into the corner of the net. The sense of relief was there for everyone to see as Diogo went into a well-rehearsed goal celebration.
Diogo added his second in the fifty-first minute and it clearly showed just what a class striker he is. Buriram won the ball out on the right and Diogo, showing great anticipation, had already started his run as the ball was played through and he casually clipped the ball across the keeper and into the net from a tight angle.
Five minutes later it was six as Nattapol’s right-wing corner was powefully headed home by Tunez.
Number seven arrived on the hour as Tunez found Diogo wide left with a delightful long pass and the Brazilian controlled it beautifully before picking out Anawin on the edge of the box. He then turned inside his marker before lashing a right-foot shot high into the net.
The scoring was completed in the sixty-fourth minute when Diogo raced onto a through-pass before rounding the keeper and stroking the ball into an empty net.
That was the end of Diogo’s evening and significantly the end of the scoring, though Supachok was denied a couple of times by the over-worked keeper.
All in all, a good night, though those defeats by Army and Ratchaburi probably mean that Buriram find themselves too far adrift from the top of the table, even with the return of their talisman striker.
Next up is a home league match against BEC Tero on Saturday June 18, kick-off 7pm.