A stoppage-time header from Diogo secured an unlikely point for leaders Buriram after twice going two goals behind against struggling BEC Tero. Adisak returned to haunt Buriram with an assured display up front and deserved his very well-taken goal.
The makeshift Buriram defence looked vulnerable all night, especially when the speedy Koomson was in possession, and gifted the visitors all three goals before Diogo’s rescue act. Buriram were missing Suchao and Krutyai came in for Chitipat who was on the bench following his injury last week. Seul Ki continued in the centre of defence and Naruphol came into midfield.
In a fairly low-key opening, Buriram won several corners which the visitors dealt with comfortably. In the ninth minute Sittichok was brought down just outside the area after collecting a neat Diogo flick. Theerathon struck his kick well but the keeper had it covered,though the ball did bounce off his chest but he recovered it quickly.
Seven minutes later a quick break by BEC down the right saw a low cross flash across the goal with an onrushing forward just failing to get a touch. Shortly after Theerathon let fly from outside the box but his effort was just too high.
After twenty minutes Buriram allowed Koomson to run at them and the winger left two defenders in his wake before firing just wide. Buriram were struggling to deal with the speed and movement of the BEC attacks, with Adisak also seeing a good effort go narrowly wide.
Five minutes later Seul Ki tried his luck from distance but his low effort was no real problem for the keeper. Buriram then produced their best move on the half-hour mark when they progressed down the left before Jakkraphan found Anawin who sent his shot high into the crowd behind the goal.
In first-half stoppage time Korawit missed the ball completely to allow Koomson to run free down the right. However, to the defender’s credit he managed to retrieve the situation by getting back to win the ball and clear. Sittichok then had a clear shooting chance but his weak,low effort failed to trouble the keeper.
So goalless at half-time and Buriram had not created any clear chances. Diogo was out wide on the left far too often,he needs to be in the box as was proved later on. The defence looked shaky and three at the back against players with pace is a risk.
Buriram replaced the anonymous Naruphol with Chitipat at half-time. He slotted in at right-back with Krutyai moving into the centre of defence and Seul Ki moving forward into midfield. I found this worrying as Seul Ki was the only one coping with the vistors’ attack.
The home side almost made the perfect start to the second-half when a left-wing cross found Seul Ki in space but he sent his header straight at the keeper. A minute later Diogo headed a very dangerous BEC free-kick behind for a corner which was unconvincingly fisted away by Siwarak.
Buriram made a good break down the left in the forty-eighth minute and Diogo slipped a lovely ball through for Sittichok to run onto but he was slow to react and BEC cleared.
In the fifty-third minute the deadlock was broken but unfortunately it was by the visitors who broke quickly down the right for Koomson to slip the ball through for an overlapping colleague. The ball was pulled back from the byline and whilst two Buriram defenders stood and watched, Teeraphol smashed the ball past a helpless Siwarak.
Two minutes later a Jakkraphan right-wing corner resulted in a scramble in the area and the ball was cleared off the line.Shortly after a cross from the right found Diogo in space but the Brazilian failed to hit the target. Then Krutyai was given a yellow card for a dreadful challenge before BEC struck again in the sixty-first minute.
Another quick break down the left saw the Buriram defence hesitate too long and Peerapat cut in to beat Siwarak at his near-post.Perhaps the keeper could’ve done better but the defending was woeful.Buriram responded by bringing on Chaowat for Krutyai.
Buriram needed to score quickly and this they did in the sixty-fifth minute.Sittichok was brought down out on the left and when Theerathon’s free-kick was headed out, the ball fell to Korawit who sent a fierce shot over the keeper who could only help the ball into the net.
Just when it looked like Buriram might salvage something from the game, BEC hit them on the break again. This time a long ball out of defence found Adisak who had lost his marker. A despairing, last-ditch tackle missed its mark and the former Buriram front man ran clear to coolly slot the ball past the advancing Siwarak.
Schoolboy defending yet again and surely Buriram were down and out. Not a bit of it.One thing you cannot fault is this side’s fighting spirit and a minute later a right-wing cross found Diogo in the box via a defender and the ball was expertly dispatched to the back of the net.
Surely Buriram couldn’t do it again ?! Santirad came on for Jakkraphan as Buriram pushed forward. However, they were nearly caught out again eight minutes from time when Siwarak made a good save after that man Koomson carved the defence open again.
Back came Buriram and a minute from time Seul Ki somehow got free in the box but from an impossible angle he went for goal and hit the side-netting.A low cross into a crowded box could’ve gone anywhere and it looked like Buriram’s unbeaten record was about to end.
However, in the third minute of injury time Buriram scored the best goal of the game. A good ball wide left found Theerathon who advanced before sending over a superb cross into the area.Diogo timed his leap to perfection to power a great header into the net and spark wild celebrations.
This crazy game almost had another twist when Siwarak had to be on his toes to deal with another BEC attack before the referee blew the final whistle. Buriram deserve credit for a great fight-back but they got themselves into trouble.
The defence was all over the place,especially in the second-half. The midfield,Theerathon apart, was largely ineffective and Diogo should not be out left so much.Adisak showed what Buriram were missing.He led the line well, holding the ball up and bringing supporting players into the game.
He was a constant threat and took his goal well. He also showed true class by refusing to celebrate his goal, just simply raising one arm. Suchao was missed in the holding role which becomes so important when playing three at the back.
It was obvious Koomson was going to be a problem, yet no provision appeared to have been made to deal with that. Let’s hope Tunez and Macena are back next week to sort out you know who !!
Next games , Wednesday July 29th Nakhon Ratchisma (H) 18.00 FA Cup, Saturday August 1st Muang Thong (H) 19.00 League.