Buriram United beat Bangkok Glass 1-0 in the Kor Royal Cup in Bangkok. After an uninspiring first-half, the game came to life in the second with Buriram emerging as worthy winners.

Suchao returned to the team and the Brazilian pairing of Macena and Diogo operated up front. Apart from a Theeraton free-kick which only required a touch to open the scoring,it was an uneventful beginning.

However, both sides were conceding a lot of free-kicks and both Suchao and Narubadin found themselves in the referee’s notebook in the first fifteen minutes. The first chance fell to Buriram after seventeen minutes.

Naruphol was played in after a one-two down the left but from a tight angle, he smashed his shot over the top. Two minutes later Macena skillfully created space in the box, only to overhit his cross.

Buriram were getting on top but apart from a Diogo shot which was blocked, were not really threatening the Glass goal. After twenty-nine minutes Bangkok Glass could have been down to ten men.

Kaimbi, their flying winger, caught Chitipat in the face with his arm and was fortunate to escape with a yellow card as it was a clear act of retaliation. The game continued to be very low-key until just before the interval.

After forty minutes Diogo tried to curl a shot into the top corner but was well wide. Four minutes later Buriram had a great chance to break the deadlock. A deep cross found Narubadin unmarked at the far post but he put his header over the bar.

It had been a disappointing first-half with both sides showing a lack of urgency and the number of free-kicks meant that the game couldn’t flow. Neither side had managed a shot on target which tells its own story.

From the off, the second-half was a different affair, with both teams showing more attacking intent.Siwarak made a comfortable save before Diogo had the Glass keeper diving to his left to push away his low shot.

After fifty-five minutes , Buriram opened the scoring.Macena did well to get to the by-line down the left before delivering a dangerous low cross into the box. Diogo just managed to get to the ball before the keeper and the ball went into the net off his shin.

Although there was a touch of fortune with the finish, it was a good move and Diogo showed good anticipation in reaching the ball first. Glass responded well and Kaimbi was causing Buriram plenty of problems down the flanks.

In the sixty-sixth minute Macena made a great surging run into the box but blasted the ball over the bar from a narrow angle. Namwiset was then injured and replaced by Krutyai who was immediately involved in controversy.

The ball was played against his arm in the penalty area and the Glass players were furious with the referee for waving aside their appeals.There was no movement of the arm towards the ball but it was well away from his side. I have seen them given in similar situations so perhaps it was a let-off for Buriram.

After seventy-four minutes Prakit replaced Naruphol and shortly after Diogo could only send a weak header straight at the keeper when well-placed. Buriram then came close to increasing their lead.

A great move involving a number of quick ,short passes, sliced through the Glass defence and Seul-Ki was just crowded out as he tried to pull the trigger.They came even closer in the eighty-second minute.

Macena had a good effort blocked by the keeper and when the ball fell to Diogo, his deft chip hit the top of the crossbar. Glass then had a heading chance but it was straight at a grateful Siwarak.

Five minutes from time Macena was lucky to escape serious injury when a dreadful over-the-top tackle could easily have broken his ankle.It really was a disgraceful tackle and inexplicably the referee did not even issue a caution.

Buriram continued to look the better side and went in search of a killer second goal but just could not produce the clinical finish.They comfortably saw out the five minutes of added time to secure the first trophy of the season.

The second-half was a huge improvement from the first and Buriram put some good moves together. However, it still appears that the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer could become a problem as Patino is a big loss to the side.

The defence looked fairly solid , with Tunez dominant in the air. Macena was lively and was involved in most of Buriram’s best moves.

It will be interesting to see what happens against Thailand on Thursday and there are still a few tickets remaining. Special mention must be made of the wonderful support given to their team by the Buriram fans.They never stopped throughout the whole of the game and it seemed like a home match.

One observation I would like to make is regarding this tiresome grabbing and holding in the penalty area It’s childish and has no place in the game. Glass’ Smith was a repeated offender and Tunez did well to maintain his self-conyrol despite constant provocation.

. Referees do need to clamp down on it, as do coaches, though I’m not too optimistic regarding either parties.