Buriram were hit by a Suphanburi equalizer two minutes from time following a free-kick awarded against Tunez for handball. The defender reacted furiously to the decision, as it was clear that the ball struck him on the chest.
Buriram traveled to Suphanburi following their mid-week heroics in China for a tricky league match. Carmelo Gonzalez was in the Suphanburi side and he would’ve been keen to put one over his former teammates.
Buriram left Narubodin on the bench which was surprising as the young defender has been outstanding in all the games so far.
Buriram almost made a dream start when a second minute Theeraton corner fell for Chitipat in the six-yard area but the defender’s tame effort was easily dealt with by the keeper.
Buriram were keeping the ball well and looked very composed.A good move down the right saw the ball reach Seul-Ki but his shot was blocked.
Suphanburi began to see more of the ball and started to look threatening but Buriram took the lead in the twenty-sixth minute. Theeraton sent over an inswinging corner from the right which forced the keeper to turn the ball over the bar.
Theeraton repeated the dose and this time the ball fell to Diogo three yards out and the striker had the simplest of tasks to turn the ball into the empty net. Just what Buriram wanted but Suphanburi reacted positively with some dangerous attacks down the Buriram right.
Suree had come in for Narubodin and was not looking comfortable and it was no surprise when he was shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge out wide.
The home side kept pressing and almost levelled with a header from a left-wing corner but Siwarak instinctively threw up an arm to turn the ball over.
Just as it looked like Buriram would go in at the interval in front, disaster struck.
Suree was easily beaten when he should’ve done better. The ball then reached the Suphanburi number seven who turned inside a weak tackle before placing a beautiful, curling shot across Siwarak and into the far corner of the net.
It was an excellent finish and Siwarak had no chance whatsoever. However, the danger should’ve been averted earlier.
So all square at half-time. Carmelo had been his usual industrious self and his old “friends” were not averse to making their presence felt whenever he threatened.
Not surprisingly, Suree was replaced by Narubodin at the start of the second-half, though the damage had been done.
It was a lively opening few minutes. First a lovely left-wing cross found Diogo in space but from six yards out he failed to hit the target with a weak left-foot shot.
Then Suphanburi had two chances of their own. Carmelo sprayed a delightful pass wide right and when the cross came in, Siwarak made a great save from the resulting powerful shot.
Shortly after, another good cross found Carmelo unmarked but his header was straight at a grateful Siwarak.
Buriram then broke away and created a great chance to regain the lead.Diogo did well to win the ball in the box but his short, square ball to Macena was slightly behind the striker and the goalkeeper was able to get down and block the shot.
A more measured pass from Diogo would have resulted in an easy finish for Macena. Five minutes laterTheeraton was only inches too high with a shot following a corner.
Diogo then had another chance but shot tamely straight at the keeper. Shortly after Prakit was replaced by Kritprom.
In the seventy-first minute a rather subdued Seul-Ki was very lucky to receive a yellow card instead of a red for a dreadful challenge.
Just as it seemed the game was heading for a draw, Buriram regained the lead in the eightieth minute.
A long ball into the box found Diogo who was felled from behind. The ball broke and Macena’s first touch was superb, creating the space for him to fire a low shot past the helpless keeper.
Once again, Macena showed great technique which was just as well as it appeared the referee was not going to award a blatant penalty.
Suphanburi were looking down and out and as the minutes ticked by Buriram looked in total control.
Then two minutes from time the referee handed Suphanburi a potential lifeline. A long ball forward was easily dealt with by Tunez when he contolled the ball with his chest.
To the Venezuelan’s horror the referee awarded a free-kick for handball, forty yards out on the Buriram right.
When the protests finally died down the ball was curled into the box and the Suphanburi substitute managed to get between two defenders and send a powerful header into the corner of the net.
It was a cruel blow and one that Buriram did not deserve. Whilst it had not been a particularly fluent performance, they had done enough against one of the better sides in the league to win the game.
At the end of the game we had the all-too familiar sight of the officials getting off the pitch as quickly as possible, rather than the customary handshakes.
Indeed, Tunez was trying desperately to “have a word ” with the referee but fortunately the still very angry defender was restrained.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Draws in two very difficult away games is far from disastrous and Buriram face Chonburi at home on Wednesday, kick off 7pm.