Seul Ki’s superb first-half goal was enough to see off Sisaket in a rather uninspiring League Cup final in Bangkok. Buriram were far from their fluent best and sorely missed the suspended Diogo and Macena who was not named in the original League Cup squad. However, they still managed to see out the game without any major scares.
Jandson and Sittichok were up front and neither posed any real threat to the Sisaket defence. It was fitting that man-of the-match Seul Ki should provide the game’s only moment of real quality with a stunning thirty yard shot. Sisaket rarely looked like getting back into the game with Tunez marshalling the defence superbly.
Buriram opened brightly but didn’t threaten until the thirteenth minute when Suchao found Jandson free twenty yards out. The Brazilian tried to curl a shot into the top corner but his effort lacked power and the keeper made a routine,if flashy, save.
Five minutes later Buriram opened the scoring when Theerathon made progress down the left before sending over a high cross. The ball was headed out to Seul Ki some thirty yards out and the Korean lashed a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Goals were always going to be at a premium without the Brazilian strike duo and this took the pressure off Buriram.They were far superior in midfield,allowing Sisaket little quality possession ,thus giving the defence a fairly comfortable ride.
Buriram had a chance to increase their lead a minute late when Jakkaphan found himself completely free and seeing the keeper off his line attempted a chip which threatened the corner flag and the crowd,rather than the goal.
There was a scramble in the Sisaket area in the twenty-fourth minute following a cross from the left and when the ball broke for Jandson, the shot was very disappointing. Siwarak had not really been troubled but he did well to fist away a whipped in free-kick in the thirty-fourth minute.
Five minutes later Jandson latched onto a through ball down the left before cutting inside. The angle was tight and he went for glory rather than cross for the well-placed Sittichok and the chance was gone.Buriram were inches away from the killer second goal two minutes before half-time.
Theerathon sent over a good left-wing corner for Seul Ki at the near-post to head across goal just out of the reach of a lunging Suchao.Jakkaphan then earned himself a silly yellow card for a needless challenge.
There was still time for Buriram to carve out another chance when Jandson collected a through ball and fed Seul Ki. A return pass would have left Jandson completely clear but the Korean elected to shoot and the keeper saved easily.
Buriram were well-worth their interval lead but their attacks lacked pace and intensity without Macena and Diogo.However, Sisaket had done little to suggest that they were capable of getting back into the game.
Buriram again opened the half on the attack and Seul Ki made a great run out of defence before sending Jakkaphan away down the left only for the midfielder to make a complete hash of the cross. Buriram had a bit of a scare in the fifty-third minute when there was a scramble in the box after Suchao fluffed a clearance but the ball was eventually thumped away by Tunez.
Suchao was in action at the other end three minutes later when a right-wing cross was headed out to him but he sent his shot wide. Siwarak had to be alert on the hour when he turned a lob over the bar and two minutes later he made a good save low to his right.
Korawit then received a yellow card for another needless challenge in the middle of the pitch. Buriram had the ball in the net in the seventieth minute following a scramble in the area. Jandson turned the ball into the net but was correctly adjudged offside when the initial shot came in.
Jandson had another chance six minutes later but headed a left-wing cross wide when well-placed. Sittichok was hurt in a challenge and he was replaced by Prakit in the seventy-sixth minute. Buriram came agonizingly close nine minutes from time when Jakkaphan crashed a great shot against the angle of post and bar.
Five minutes later, the same player beat two defenders in the box before hitting the side-netting from a narrow angle.Shortly after Jandson was replaced by Narubadin as Buriram looked to see out the last few minutes. Deep into stoppage time Jakkaphan was fouled thirty yards out.
Anawin was shown a yellow card for time-wasting before Suchao’s free-kick landed on the top of the net.That was the end of the action and Buriram ran out well-deserved winners. It was as comprehensive a 1-0 victory as you can possibly get.Buriram were always in control, with Seul Ki and Tunez outstanding.
Buriram return to league action on Wednesday, November 25, 6pm when Nahkhon Ratchasima are the visitors to Thunder Castle.
