Dateline 8th March 2017 – Match day 5.
The clash of two of Isaan’s football superpowers took place in the Thunder Castle in this midweek encounter.
The game began with the hosts pressing forward with Diogo looking dangerous. The Swatcat’s defence coped effectively with the early raids forward, lying deep and content to soak up early pressure.
On 16 minutes Coelho nodded in following some slack defending to give Buriram the lead and 3 minutes later the Swatcats went two down when an unmarked Supachok drove home from 10 yards.
With the Swatcats not able to mount a semblance of an attacking move, one is tempted to say already - 20 minutes in - game over.
Buriram continued to dominate with the visitors only able to muster a couple of half hearted long range shots. With the visitor’s defence in total disarray time after time it was ultimately punished as Coelho made it 3-0 with a 12 yard drive.
The second half began, echoing the first half dominance of the home team with the Swatcats again unable to mount any sustained forward play. The continued lack of coverage by defenders inside the box is both worrying and likely to lead to more goals in this one-sided encounter.
In a rare foray forward Akekenat poked the ball just wide from 4 yards - the first Swatcat chance of the match in the 66th minute!!! Velkoski then missed from 2 yards after good work from Athibordee.
A slightly better performance in the second half but I suspect that Buriram had, by this time, taken their foot off the gas.
Late drama in the 76th minute as Chalermpong was dismissed for a cynical challenge on Diogo. Why Diogo was not himself sent off for retaliating with a brutal shove is a complete mystery to me.
In the dying seconds the visitors conceded a penalty that Diogo converted to complete the scoring for Buriram.
Painful to watch and generally a poor performance against an obviously more talented side. Clueless in defence, toothless up front - there’s not much more to say.
I would have liked to have seen more fight and ambition and to sit back from the start is asking for trouble against a side like Buriram. This tactic effectively allowed Buriram to put the game to bed within the first 20 minutes.
Not a disaster but it does signal that we are not capable of competing with the top teams….and Muang Thong to come at the weekend!!!
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