Buriram suffered their first pre-season defeat, 1-0, at the the hands of Incheon United from South Korea.
Coach Ranko Popovic fielded what he probably thinks is his strongest side but the Koreans exposed several weaknesses, particularly in defence. Kanu is obviously ear-marked for the central defender’s role.
However, he looks what he is, a midfielder playing at the back. Everyone could see that Tunez had an average season last year, but to let him go without having a direct replacement could come back to haunt Buriram. (remember Macena!)
Pansa does not look comfortable at right-back and may well be more suited to the central role. Last night the midfield was disappointing too. Both Suchao and Seul-Ki were fairly anonymous with no-one directing operations on the park.
Buriram looked far more threatening when Anawin and the promising Supachai were introduced. Diogo had one of those nights when he wouldn’t have scored if the game went on until midnight,spurning several good chances.
New boy Coutinho continues to look threatening when he’s on the ball but often his final ball is worryingly loose. He needs to show more composure to ensure that his undoubted dribbling skills don’t go to waste.
Buriram made a bright start to the game and indeed, Incheon were unable to get out of their own half for about a quarter of an hour. A lightning break from deep saw Coutinho run at the defence before the move was halted by an offside flag.
After 9 minutes Coutinho sent over a free-kick from the left which found Kanu unmarked but the header was straight at the keeper. Ten minutes later Supachok was just wide with a low shot from thirty yards.
That was just about it for Buriram as Incheon gained total control of the midfield, starving Buriram of meaningful possession. The Koreans had threatened the home goal with several quick breaks down the flanks and indeed took the lead from one of these two minutes before the interval.
The Buriram defence were caught completely out of position by a long ball down the Incheon right. Siwarak initially rushed out of his goal but realised he couldn’t get there before Lee Hyog Yun. He tried to get back but the Korean collected the ball to send a low shot into the far corner.
A familiar story from last year. A big improvement in the middle was going to be needed if Buriram were going to get back into the game.
Buriram started the second-half in a positive manner and Supachock was inches too high with a thunderous shot from thirty yards. However, the Koreans once again took a firm grip on the midfield and denied Buriram time and space to mount their attacks.
The home side enjoyed a good spell following the arrivals of Anawin and Supachai, their attacks becoming faster and more direct, particularly down the right.
Diogo had a great chance to level ten minutes from time when an excellent cross from the right found him unmarked, six yards out but he headed straight at the keeper.
The Brazilian had a few more good chances but to say he didn’t have his shooting boots on would be an understatement.
Although Buriram were certainly second-best, there is no reason to be totally pessimistic. They will not be facing teams of the quality of Incheon this season.
However, it was something of a reminder of what to expect from some of the better sides in the league and this Buriram team is far from the finished article.