Buriram ran out easy 4-0 winners over a poor Ubon side who failed to put the home defence under any real pressure all game. Coelho netted a hat-trick but it wouldn’t have been his best one.
There was more than a touch of good fortune about Coelho’s first two goals and the Ubon keeper will probably feel he should have done better with the third from Bastos.
Buriram maintained possession far better than in midweek but the build up play lacked pace, allowing the visitors time to get men behind the ball. Indeed, Buriram’s first corner came after just over an hour’s play.
There was still no Diogo who was once again on the bench and Supachok was in the starting line-up. It wasn’t a happy return for former Buriram head coach Scott Cooper as he saw his side surrender with a whimper.
Also returning was Suree and he picked up a yellow card for a foul which led to the third goal.
Buriram made the perfect start by opening the scoring in the 5th minute. A quick free-kick found Coelho on the edge of the area and he attempted to find Seul-Ki in the box. However, the Korean failed to make contact which completely threw the keeper who was unable to get to the ball as it rolled past him into the net at the far post.
It should have been two in the 19th minute when Narubadin found Coelho who back-heeled the ball for him to run onto before crossing for Bastos to slice hopelessly wide.
Coelho was in action again in the 28th minute when he beat the offside trap down the right channel before turning inside to send in a low shot which the keeper pushed away.
After 35 minutes Sasalak got free down the left and pulled the ball back for Coelho whose shot was blocked.
Five minutes later Buriram increased their lead but again the home side enjoyed a huge slice of good luck. Coelho found Seul-Ki in space and he checked neatly before turning and firing in a shot which struck Coelho, completely wrong-footing the keeper.
So Buriram went in at the interval two goals to the good without really producing anything particularly exciting. Bastos was disappointing and no-one was taking command of midfield.
Ubon had their first shot on target in the 54th minute which Siwarak turned round the post only for the referee to award a goal kick.
Ten minutes later Sasalak was fouled just outside the left-angle of the area by Suree. Bastos struck the free-kick well and it went over the wall and the keeper could only push the ball into the net at his near-post.
Supachok had looked threatening at times and in the 70th minute Coelho set him up with a clear sight of goal but his shot ballooned over the bar. That was the end of his night as he was replaced by Jakkaphan.
After 76 minutes the crowd were happy to see the welcome return of Diogo who came on for the struggling Bastos. Shortly after Narubadin sent over a deep cross from the right which found Coelho at the far-post. He controlled the ball well but his shot from a tight angle was turned away by the keeper.
Diogo then made his first telling contribution in the 80th minute when he controlled the ball before turning neatly and hammering a shot just over from the edge of the area.
He was then shown a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Suree and Narubadin also picked up a silly one for not retreating for an Ubon free-kick.
Four minutes from time Suchao came on for Ratthanakorn before Buriram wrapped things up deep into stoppage time with the best goal of the game. Narubadin burst through down the right and when he got to the byline, he looked up and pulled the ball back for Coelho who took a touch before netting with his left-foot.
As mentioned previously, it wasn’t vintage Buriram but it’s another potentially tricky fixture out of the way. A fit Diogo will obviously make a difference but the midfield is a concern with no-one taking charge and pulling the strings.
Next game is against rock-bottom Super Power, away on Sunday August 6, 6pm.