A mistake by reserve goalkeeper Sornchai has left the League Cup semi-final in the balance. Buriram take a slender one goal lead to Bangkok for the second leg and will have their work cut out to overcome a useful Army side. It was all going well with Buriram 3-1 up and cruising but the keeper’s slip changed the tie completely to leave it 3-2.
Buriram got off to a dreadful start when Army took the lead in the fourth minute. A left-wing corner was taken short and from the resulting cross Azeredo got in between a static Tunez and Seul Ki to turn the ball home from close range.
Buriram set about repairing the damage and a minute later Suchao went close with a header from Theerathon’s free-kick from the right. Then Jandson,in for the rested Macena, had a fierce shot touched away by the keeper but he was not to be denied for long.
Buriram won a free-kick on the left in the eighth minute and Suchao whipped in a superb cross which Jandson powered into the net with a header.It really was a beautifully executed goal and Jandson was far from finished.
After eighteen minutes Jakkaphan blocked an attempted clearance and tried a chip from the edge of the area but it drifted just wide of the far post. Four minutes later Buriram should have taken the lead when a great move carved the Army defence wide open.
Theerathon collected the ball in midfield before finding Diogo who set Jandson clear on goal with a perfectly weighted pass. However, the big striker’s first touch took him away from goal and his cross-cum-shot drfted wide
Back came Buriram a minute later and Seul Ki had a shot parried by the keeper and when the ball was crossed back in from the right, Diogo tried an acrobatic volley even though the ball was slightly behind him but the shot flew just wide.
Buriram were playing some superb football and once again sliced the visitors’ defence wide open with the move of the match in the twenty-eighth minute. Tunez found Suchao whose first-time ball found Diogo who in turn sent Jandson through with another first-time pass.
Sadly, the Brazilian’s touch was far too heavy which allowed the keeper time to advance and smother the shot. A goal had to come and it came in the thirty-sixth minute. A quick throw out on the left found Theerathon who put over a lovely cross for Jandson to rise superbly to direct a header into the corner of the net.
Three minutes later Buriram had the chance to go further ahead when Seul Ki put Diogo clean through on goal but the striker tried to dink the ball over the advancing keeper who just got a hand to the ball to deflect it wide.
The Army keeper was in action again in the forty-second minute when Buriram were awarded a free-kick for handball twenty-five yards out. Suchao sent his shot arrowing towards the top corner but the keeper leapt to his left to turn the ball over the bar.
So 2-1 at half-time and Buriram had played some outstanding attacking football. However, the game should really have been over as a contest as the home side had created and missed several gilt-edged chances.
Army had played their part in an entertaining half with their front two Azeredo and Dutch striker de Leeuw in particular, looking dangerous. On the other hand the Army defence was not coping with the speed of Buriram’s attacks and further goals seemed likely.
Right from the off in the second-half Buriram created and wasted another great opportunity. Narubadin put Diogo clear down the left and the Brazilian sent over a fantastic low cross which both Jandson and Jakkaphan missed completely with the goal gaping.
Army almost made them pay in the fifty-sixth minute when a great run and pull-back by de Leeuw down the left was hit high over the Buriram bar. A minute later Diogo was sent clear in the left-side of the box but elected to cross instead of shooting and the chance was gone.
Jandson then had another chance from a Suchao free-kick but turned the ball wide under pressure from a defender. In the sixty-sixth minute Suree became the first player to go into the referee’s book following a clumsy late challenge.
Three minutes later Buriram finally increased their lead with a superbly crafted and taken goal. Sornchai threw the ball to Theerathon who found Diogo free down the left and he made for the byline before looking up and pulling the ball back perfectly to leave Jakkaphan with the easiest of finishes.
Buriram took off Jandson for Sittichok in the seventy-fourth minute and the Army defence looked rather relieved to see the back of the powerful striker. Two minutes later Sornchai got down well to block a low shot before gathering the rebound.
Buriram went up to the other end and following a left-wing cross, the Army defence blocked three goalbound attempts before finally getting the ball clear. Then Buriram were stunned by a soft goal in the eightieth minute.
A right-wing corner found Mokkasem at the far post and the defender’s downward header somehow evaded Sornchai, diving to his right. It was certainly a mistake by the keeper but had the Buriram defender remained at the post, it would’ve been the simplest of clearances.
There was still time for Buriram to create another good chance when Chaowat found Jakkaphan in the right side of the box but the midfielder chose to go for the near-post from a tight angle with Diogo and Sittichok waiting in the middle. The shot was on target but the keeper got down well to save.
It had been a very enjoyable game with much to admire about Buriram. However, the fact remains that Army are still well in this tie when really they should have been sent home with their tails between their legs.Buriram will still be favourites but the defence will have to deal with set-pieces much better if they are to progress.