Buriram United added another silverware to their already crowded trophy cabinet when they edged Si Sa Ket 1-0 in the Toyota League Cup final yesterday to capture the title for fourth time.
Buriram’s Go Seul-Ki heads the ball against Si Sa Ket in the League Cup final.
The victory in yesterday’s showdown at Supachalasai Stadium has made Buriram United the most successful club in the history of the tournament.
A first-half drive by South Korean Go Seul-Ki also made amends for their 2-0 loss to BEC Tero Sasana in last year’s final.
Buriram were without their prolific Brazilian strikers Diogo Luis Santos and Gilberto Macena with Jandson dos Santos and Sittichoke Kannoo taking over the responsibility of spearheading their attack.
Si Sa Ket went on the offensive from the beginning and succeeded in setting up their ace striker Adefolarin Durosinmi of Nigeria but his shot went over the bar.
The Thunder Castle also had an opportunity when Brazilian striker Jandson tested Si Sa Ket goalkeeper Narong Wongthongkam early in the first half.
The first goal came in the 18th minute when Theerathon Bunmathan sent in a low cross from the left and Go pounced on a poor clearance by a Si Sa Ket defender.
The ball was cleared out of the box but it was directed straight to a charging Go and the Korean midfielder fired a blistering shot that sizzled into the net unchallenged.
After conceding the goal, Si Sa Ket upped the momentum of their attacks and Victor Amaro failed in his bid to squeeze his way past the solid Buriram defence a few times.
Buriram kept making forays into their opponents’ half, mostly relying on counter-attacks.
Jakkraphan Kaewprom had a chance to double the margin for Buriram but he sent his shot flying over the bar.
Si Sa Ket had another opportunity to annul their rivals’ advantage but Kittipong Wongma saw his shot cleared by goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnern.
The Koupreys kept on attacking Buriram and Durosinmi again missed the mark from outside the box late in the first half.
Go came close to adding another goal to Buriram’s tally in the last minute of the first half but his header on a Theerathon lob missed the target by a whisker.
There was more excitement in store as Buriram counter-attacked and Jakkraphan forced Narong into making a spectacular save.
In the second half, Buriram United’s Sittichoke took his turn to put Si Sa Ket goalkeeper Narong to another test with the latter warding off the danger.
Si Sa Ket attacked in the 61st minute but Kapfah Boonmatoon’s attempt at levelling the score was cleared off by Siwarak.
In the 70th minute, Jandson planted the ball into the net but was ruled off-side.
The Brazilian then sent a shot over the bar in the 76th minute and 10 minutes before time, Jakkraphan rammed a curling shot into the top of the frame.
During the four minute injury time, Buriram had a free-kick from outside the penalty area and Suchao Nutnum missed the target by a few inches.
Buriram picked five million baht as the winners and will play in the Mekong Cup final, while Si Sa Ket received the runners-up’s purse of one million baht.
Meanwhile, SCG Muang Thong United will try to narrow the gap on leaders Buriram United in the Thai Premier League today.
Muang Thong, second with 64 points from 29 matches, will host Chainat and their bosses believe their title chances are still alive although they are seven points off the pace.
Kirins manager Karn Jantarat said: “We are not too far behind Buriram so we are not giving up the title chase, but we must play at our best in the remaining five matches.”