Buriram United opened the new season with a victory over fancied Bangkok United in a remarkable game which could easily have yielded more goals. Buriram opted to play without a recognized striker and it worked a treat, particularly in the first-half, as the Bangkok United defence were completely bemused by the way Buriram attacked from deep.
They exploited the gaps behind the defence as Bangkok United struggled to work out who they were supposed to be marking. It is no exaggeration to say the visitors could’ve had five or six before the interval. Little was seen of the home attack until the latter stages of the game when they lay siege to the Buriram United goal.
Right from the start Buriram went on the offensive and in the second minute the Bangkok keeper just managed to hold onto a dangerous low cross from the left. His poor clearance then found Jakkaphan thirty yards out but his lob was inches too high. Two minutes later Jakkaphan fired a low twenty-five yard shot just wide.
In the tenth minute a Theerathon left-wing corner was headed down and wide by the under pressure Tunez. However, the big defender made amends eight minutes later when another fine Theerathon corner allowed him to rise and thump a header into the corner of the net.
Shortly after Narubadin received a yellow card for a needless rash challenge in the opposing half. Bangkok United then had a spell of pressure with Boscovic looking particularly threatening. Indeed, it was he who brought the home side level when a left-wing cross was headed down to him and he buried a low shot beyond Siwarak.
Buriram United responded well and continued to stretch the home defence. In the twenty-sixth minute Yong had a great chance to restore Buriram’s lead when he ran onto a through ball and took it past the keeper with his head. With the goal gaping he mis-hit his shot and the ball was cleared off the line.
Two minutes later Anawin found Narubadin in the right-side of the penalty area and when he was barged to the ground the referee immediately pointed to the spot despite futile Bangkok United protests. Tunez calmly waited for the fuss to die down before sending the keeper the wrong way with the penalty.
Buriram almost scored again when after an incisive move down the left a superb cross found Seul-Ki in space but the keeper saved well with his legs. Six minutes later Buriram repeated the move but once again Seul-Ki’s first-time effort was well-saved by the over-worked keeper.
But Seul-Ki was not to be denied and three minutes before the interval, Theerathon sent over a great cross from the left and Seul-Ki leapt superbly to bullet a header into the net. This gave the scoreline a more realistic look as Buriram United went in at half-time in complete control.
Adul came on for Narubadin as Buriram United continued where they left off. Yong sent over a great cross which found Jakkaphan completrely unmarked but his tame shot was easy for the keeper when a more positive finish was required. However, the fourth goal was not long in coming.
When the ball came into the box in the fifty-fourth minute Seul-Ki laid the ball into the path of Yong with his chest and his fellow-Korean did the necessary with a firm low shot. Adul then received a yellow card before Siwarak came out to block when Bangkok United were through on goal.
He then found Seul-Ki with a quick clearance but his effort landed on top of the net. Korawit then received a yellow card for a rash challenge before Buriram had the chance to put the game out of sight. Theerathon sent Jakkaphan racing clear but when he took the ball round the keeper his touch was too heavy and the chance was gone.
Bangkok United got back into the game in the sixty-seventh minute when following some careless defending, Siwarak missed a low cross from the right and Boscovic made no mistake. Buriram then brought on Weslley who was immediately brought down just outside the area.
Yong tried to beat the keeper at the near-post but he saved at the expense of a corner. Once again, Theerathon’s left-wing cross was perfect and the unmarked Tunez made no mistake with a towering header. Shortly after, Siwarak made a good save from a free-kick.
However, Bangkok United did pull a goal back in the seventy-eighth minute when a cross from the right struck Theerathon on the arm in the area. Although there seemed to be no intent, Theerathon did have his arm sticking out so you have to agree with the referee. Boscovic made no mistake from the spot to complete the second hat-trick of the game.
Tunez was booked for his unwanted comments to the referee and really he should know better. Bangkok United then poured forward ,looking for another goal and at times Buriram had to resort to desperate defending. They were not helped by Adul who was dismissed in the eighty-seventh minute following an unnecessary second yellow card.
However Buriram managed to hold on for a thoroughly deserved victory . Their attacking play for much of the game was outstanding but there are still concerns about the defence. One thing that this game did clearly highlight was the gulf in class between the Thai league and the Champions League.
Buriram still have a long way to go to become a major force in Asia.
Buriram host Navy on Wednesday March 9 at Thunder Castle, kick-off 7pm. They then visit Chiang Rai on Saturday March 12, kick-off 6pm.