Dateline 2^nd October 2019

 NRFC 2 Buriram United 3

Attendance; 22463

A vital match for both sides began in front of a raucous, partisan crowd at the 80^th Anniversary Stadium.

The Swatcats began confidently and their early endeavours were rewarded when Naruphol sent in a fine drive that the visitor’s keeper superbly tipped over the bar. With the hosts now bossing possession, Henri broke forward into the box, his cross was deflected to Hartmann whose shot from 8 yards was blocked - the Swatcats should be two goals up!!

With Buriram scarcely troubling the home defence, out of the blue, in the 20^th minute, Jonsson volleyed in from 22 yards to give Buriram the lead - a real screamer!! Minutes later, disaster for the Swatcats when keeper Cunningham was only able to parry a deflected free kick and Ratthanakorn, following up, tapped the loose ball into the net.

Undaunted, the hosts pressed forward with Henri firing into the side netting and then in the 31^st minute they deservedly pulled one back when Yaya Kunath latched onto an Henri back heel and, after great perseverance, scrambled the ball into the net.

The second half began and within minutes, Assumpcao struck a free kick inches wide with the keeper flailing but with Buriram now defending deep and with numbers trying to defend their lead, further Swatcat goals seemed unlikely.

After a period of relative stalemate, the game burst into life when Hartmann was set free just inside the Buriram half. His fine solo run was ended when his low drive was well saved by the keeper.

Buriram seemingly put the game to bed when they added a third goal when Supachok struck in the 79^th minute, Ingresso then thumped a free kick narrowly wide as Swatcat hopes faded. The Swatcats then rallied and they cut the deficit with a superb overhead kick from Kitsada in the 93^rd minute.

A fine battling performance from the Swatcats tonight. They were not intimidated by Buriram and gave it a real go. In front of a huge crowd, they matched the Buriram side for large portions of the game with the final result down to clinical finishing from the visitors.

Surely, based on tonight’s performance they will not be relegated. They now need to replicate this form in the remaining two games against Chainat and Sukhothai - I do however have my doubts that they have it in them. Chainat and Sukhothai are battlers and I guess it will be all about who wants it more. 

Match Day 28 Stats