Obb Deewajin
Football Tribe Thailand
Buriram United kicked off Sundays 6pm fixture away to Prachuap at the Sam Ao Stadium, with Chiangrai United equal with them on 33 points after they beat Chainat Hornbill FC on Saturday.
Centre-back Apiwat Ngualamhin continued to play in place of the injured Andres Tunez, while captain Jakkaphan Kaewprom replaced Hajime Hosogai alongside Ratthanakorn Maikami as the midfield pairing – Jakkaphan’s first league start since mid-April. Attacking midfielder Supachok Sarachat was also excluded from the match-day squad.
Playing a destroyer (Ratthanakorn) next to a box-to-box midfielder (Jakkaphan) diminished Buriram United’s passing tempo and their capability to bring the ball out from the back – a sentiment shared by head coach Bozidar Bandovic in his post-match press conferences. With that said, it’s not hard to understand the logic by Bandovic’s selection. Hosogai simply needed a rest, and with Luong Xuan Truong already back at Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Jakkaphan was the best alternative. Not only that but Jakkaphan’s trademark runs into the box are, on paper, a perfect match with target-man Rasmus Jonsson’s hold up play as well as Nacer Barazite’s tendency to drift wide before swinging a cross in.
The ‘2017 Jakkaphan’ would’ve thrived in this XI, but the 31-year-old may have already begun his transformation into playing a deeper role. Simply put, he was not playing to his own strengths and left to do what Hosogai did, only with less intensity.
Prachuap defended excellently in their 5-2-3/5-3-2 shape with both fullbacks sticking tight to their Buriram counterparts. Leaving two, and sometimes even three, strikers up front was a brave decision by coach Thawatchai, but it ultimately paid off since it allowed the Killer Wasps to counter-attack in numbers and also forced the Thunder Castle’s backline to be extra careful in possession, slowing their passing tempo.
The best chance of the game fell to Supot Jodjam in the 39th minute when the striker got on the end of a through ball, but he couldn’t his footing right and failed to beat Siwarak Tedsungnoen in a 1-on-1 situation. Unable to create any decent chance, Hosogai was brought on for defender Pansa Hemviboon in the 41st minute, switching Buriram into a 4-3-3 formation.
Unfortunately, things didn’t improve for the visitors – Prachuap were still getting shots at goal, and things were made worse when Apiwat’s red card reduced them to ten. The game finished 0-0, the first time in history that Buriram United have failed to score in three consecutive league games.
Elsewhere, Bangkok United welcomed Trat FC, who were on a run of 3 straight league defeat. New signing Phituckchai Limraksa started in place of first choice left-back Sathaporn Daengsee, who was on-loan from the Angels and unavailable for this match. The White Elephant also fielded Yuki Bamba – the Japanese central midfielder who returned for his second spell with Trat FC having helped the side to promotion in 2018 before joining T2 side BG Pathum United for the first leg of the season.
The home side went on the front foot straight away but just couldn’t put the ball past the fantastic Tossaporn Srirueng, whose shot-stopping game always seemed to peak against big opponents. The 29-year-old’s cat-like reflex denied Nelson Bonilla’s far post attempt in the 14th minute. Moments later, he showed off his acrobatics yet again, diving at full stretch to punch Anon Amornlerdsak long-range curler away in style.
Against the run of play, it was Trat FC who took the lead just 3 minutes into the 2nd half. Bangkok defender Everton Goncalves was dispossessed while trying to play out of the back, the ball found its way to Fola Durosinmi, who rifled a low shot past Michael Falkesgaard into the near post.
Anything less than a win would be a disaster for Bangkok United so, to nobody’s surprise, Mano Polking immediately made a quick substitution – new striker Chananan Pombubpha came on for Kasidit Sieghart, giving Bonilla the freedom to roam around more freely.
Seconds later, from the inside-right channel, Anon slipped in an inch-perfect ball past three Trat defenders onto the path of wingback Ekkachai Samre, who knocked a simple pass back for Bonilla’s neat finish. Nothing Tossaporn could do in this situation.
Going forward, Trat FC was relying heavily on midfielder Wongsakorn Chaikulthewin’s range of passing and striker Lonsana Doumbouya’s hold up play. The 2 two often found each other and caused the home defense a few troubles. Unluckily, they couldn’t score and after a lapse of concentration at the back, Bonilla got onto the end of a simple long ball, skipped past Tossaporn and passed the ball into an open net to make it 2-1 to the Angels in the 78th minute. Substitutes Mika Chunuonsee and Thossawat Limwannasathian came on to secure the lead, helping the hosts see out the victory.
With this result, Mano Polking’s men jumped to third place, with only two points between them and leaders Buriram United. The two teams are set to meet next Sunday at the Chang Arena in what is shaping up to be the most important game of the season yet.