Buriram draw as Kirins, Chiang Rai win
Buriram United scored twice in a space of three minutes to battle back for a 2-2 draw against Chonburi in their opening fixture of the Thai League One at the I-Mobile Stadium last night.
Goals from Jaja Coelho and Solvi Ottesen in the 75th and 77th minutes saved Buriram’s blushes after a first-half double from Nurul Sriyankem (39th and 42nd) had put Chonburi ahead.
The draw for Buriram came after other title contenders — arch-rivals SCG Muang Thong United and Chiang Rai United — had winning starts.
Thitiphan Puangjan produced the first hat-trick of the new season as he helped Chiang Rai claim three points at their home ground, where they trounced Super Power Samut Prakan 4-0 yesterday. Felipe Azevedo added the fourth in the dying moments.
Spanish striker Xisco Jimenez scored a brace for the Kirins, who ran riot at Bangkok Glass’ Leo Stadium on Saturday night.
Jimenez tapped home his first goal in the seventh minute from close range, pouncing on a curling free-kick from Theerathon Bunmathan.
After almost an hour-long wait, Muang Thong United finally added to their tally when Cleiton Silva headed in a Theerathon cross from the left.
The defending champions were then quick to extend their lead. Chanathip Songkrasin found Jimenez with a shrewd pass and the Spaniard chipped the ball over a bunch of Bangkok Glass defenders before slotting it home, once again from pointblank range.
Muang Thong then capped a remarkable performance with a fourth when substitute Peerapat Notechaiya was set up by Cleiton towards the end of the match.
Muang Thong coach Totchtawan Sripan said: “We did not expect to score four goals because Bangkok Glass are a very good team.
“We now need to avoid becoming overconfident after this big win — it was only the first match of the season.”
Bangkok Glass coach Aurelio Vidmar said: “We had chances to score goals but we were not good enough to take them. Our opponents had a good attacking game and they deserved to win.”
Also on Saturday night, hosts Suphanburi came back from one goal down to edge newly promoted Thai-Honda 2-1.
Thai-Honda went ahead in the 17th minute when Peemawit Thongnitiroj scored.
However, Suphanburi equalised with a Chananan Pombupha strike before Brazilian striker Dellatorre delivered the winner.
At Boonyajinda Stadium, Police Tero claimed three points at their home ground after defeating Pattaya United 2-0. Their goals were scored by Kim Dong-Chan (60th minute) and Michael N’dri (77th).
The national football season got underway on Saturday evening.