Buriram had to dig deep to rescue a point at Korat (easier than Nakhon Ratchisima) to come away with a 1-1 draw. It was not a fluent performance against their “local” rivals but probably a fair result despite Buriram hitting the woodwork twice.
Buriram were without Tunez, still feeling the effects of his knock last week, and top scorer Diogo. Seul Ki came in for Tunez and Chaowat for Diogo. This meant a lot of responsibility was laid on the shoulders of Macena up front.
As in several recent games, Buriram had an early chance. Macena won a corner in the second minute and Suchao’s right wing cross was headed just wide by the unmarked Seul Ki at the near post. Two minutes later a quick Theerathon throw found Macena but his shot on the turn was straight at the keeper.
Buriram carved out another openining in the thirteenth minute when Jakkraphan got through on the left but was forced wide as he rounded the keeper. However, his attempt to find Macena went behind the Brazilian and the ball was cleared. Two minutes later, disaster struck!
A quick break by Korat down the left stretched the Buriram defence and the resulting cross was missed completely by Korawit who mistimed his jump and the ball eventually fell to the Korat striker who gave Siwarak no chance with an acrobatic shot from eight yards.
A bad mistake but Buriram almost levelled immediately. Macena won a free-kick twenty yards out fairly central. Theerathon struck a great shot over the wall but the keeper flung himself to his right to fingertip the ball onto the post and it was cleared. A truly superb save !
It was Siwarak’s turn in the twenty-second minute when he got down well to his left to turn away a hard,low shot from the edge of the area. A minute later another long ball down the left saw Seul Ki beaten on the turn and the square pass was fired inches over the bar.
Buriram came back and a ball into the box was fumbled by the keeper and when Macena seized onto the loose ball he was felled by the desperate challenge of the keeper but nothing was given. To be fair to the referee, there were no appeals from the striker.
Back came Buriram and when another quick throw found Naruphol in space in the right of the area his attempt was neither a shot nor a cross,just purely aimless.
Buriram created another chance in the thirty-seventh minute when Jakkraphan got clear to the left of goal but was forced wide as he rounded the keeper.
His attempt to find Macena was behind the Brazilian and the chance was gone. Shortly after Jakkraphan received a yellow card for some ridiculous jostling in the box prior to a corner.
Two minutes later Buriram should have fallen further behind when a swift break down the left saw the the centre-forward get clear but the angle was tight.He elected to shoot and the merest touch off a defender’s boot was enough to deflect the ball just wide.
Had he decided to square the ball to a colleague completely unmarked in front of an open goal, Buriram would have been left with a mountain to climb. Shortly after Surat came on for the once again disappointing Naruphol.
A strange half. Buriram started brightly but Korat grew in confidence after the goal and had the better chances against a shaky defence. But it was only one goal so Buriram were still well in the game.
Buriram brought on Sittichok for Chaowat in the second-half and came so close to an equalizer in the first minute. Sittichok was brought down thirty yards out ,left of goal. Suchao hit a superb shot that struck the angle of bar and post before bouncing down close to the line but certainly not over.
Two minutes later Buriram went close again when the ball reached Macena on the left edge of the box and he placed his shot agonizingly wide of the far post.
Another chance went begging straight after when Suchao picked up a loose ball in the box but when an emphatic finish was required, he side-footed tamely straight at the keeper. Theerathon then saw the keeper tip a vicious inswinging corner round the post with his fingertips.
Chitipat received a yellow card in the fifty-ninth minute for a late challenge and Suchao joined him for a comment he made to the referee. Shortly after a hard,low Anawin cross was blocked by the keeper and then Sittichok had a shot deflected just wide.
Buriram then brought on Narubadin for Anawin and Seul Ki moved up into midfield. It seemed that a goal was never going to come but come it did and it was worth waiting for. In the seventy-sixth minute Buriram were having to do some smart defending but then the ball was moved swiftly down the left.
Theerathon got to the corner flag before laying a beautiful ball back to Sittichok just inside the area. Without hesitating he sent a delightful left-foot shot into the far top-corner with the keeper finally well-beaten. An outstanding team effort and finish.
Five minutes later Surat received a yellow card for a rash challenge and immediately after Seul Ki was lucky not to see red.A dreadful over-the-top challenge saw a Korat player receive nasty stud-marks down his shin and it’s not the first time Seul Ki has been guilty of such a challenge.
Hero Sittichok then received a yellow card and became the fifth Buriram player to go in the referee’s book. This should not be happening and most of the incidents occurred in areas of the pitch where there was no danger. There is no excuse for ill-discipline.
There were no more really worrying moments for either side and both teams seemed content with a draw, though Buriram did seem to be the ones more interested in a winner. Tunez and Diogo were badly missed and it does show a lack of strength in depth in key areas. Let’s hope we have them both back soon.
Next two games are league matches on Wednesday July 15th Bangkok Glass (H) 19.00 and Saturday July 18th Saraburi (A) 18.00.