Reigning champions Buriram United strengthen their grasp on a record tenth Thai championship thanks to their 3-1 victory against arch nemesis Mueangthong United, as well as True Bangkok United’s shock 0-0 draw against relegation-threatened PT Prachuap. This puts Buriram five points clear at the top with four games remaining. While a stunning comeback is still not entirely off the table for Bangkok, it is realistically over for the 2006 league champions.
El Clasico goes to Buriram: Buriram 3-1 Mueangthong
Mueangthong came into this match with a six-game winning streak in the league and a ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions, whereas Buriram was three points clear at the top. True Bangkok United was losing ground, but Buriram could not risk losing this momentum. Therefore, the fortieth clash between the two most successful football clubs in the country proves to still be at such a high stake as it has always been.
Buriram scored twice in the first 20 minutes thanks to Jefferson Tabinas and Supachai Chaided, but Mueangthong returned to the second half with a lot of rejuvenation and new tactics from the duo Miloš Joksić and Uthai Boonmoh. They scored in the 56th minute, followed by William Popp’s freekick that hit the bar. Buriram struggled throughout the second half, but was then given a controversial penalty in the 78th minute, which Goran Čaušić converted, returning a two-goal cushion to the host. The game ended with the score of 3-1, giving Buriram a crucial six-point gap from True Bangkok United before the latter’s match against PT Prachuap.
Mueangthong’s complaint against the referee
Shortly after the game, Mueangthong United filed a formal complaint with a 5,000 baht guarantee to the league’s Commission of Referee Performance Assessment. The Kirins pointed to two events in particular: Kenneth William Dugall’s block on Poramet Arjvirai which went unpunished, and the controversial late penalty. The Commission’s verdict will be published later this week. If the referee is found wrongful, they will be sanctioned by the Disciplinary Board.
The referee and officials in that game are Witsawet Sangnakhon (Referee), Binpla Prida (1st assistant referee), Phattharaphong Kitsathit (2nd assistant referee), Alongkon Khonwai (4th official), Nopphadet Mueangngam (1st VAR referee) and Chaowalit Phunprasit (VAR assistant referee)
Bangkok bottled against relegation contender Prachuap
True Bangkok United played at home against 13th-placed PT Prachuap FC; the Bangkokians were in dire need of points after they had already lost crucial points against Port earlier in a 2-2 draw. They were six points behind Buriram who were just victorious, and a victory against the relegation-threatened PT Prachuap would bring the gap back to three points.
Both teams exchanged blows throughout 90 minutes, but it was the host who utterly dominated the visitors. Bangkok had 68 percent of the ball and four shots on target compared to Prachuap’s one single hit. Still, what counts is a goal, and Bangkok failed to convert their opportunities. The game ended goalless, and Bangkok’s hope of a first league title in 18 years grew even fainter.
Thai Championship Run In
With four games left in the 2023/2024 Thai League 1 Championship, the title run in is getting excited and can still produce some drama. Ultimately, will we see a record-extending tenth Thai league title or a first title win in close to two decades? Place your bets on the 2024 Thai League Champions at M88!
Here are the fixtures for both title protagonists.
Buriram United
4 May: Nakhon Pathom (A), 8th in Thai League
12 May: Port FC (H), 3rd in Thai League
18 May: Uthai Thani (A), 9th in Thai League
26 May: Khon Kaen United (H), 11th in Thai League
True Bangkok United
5 May 2024: Khon Kaen United (A), 11th in Thai League
12 May 2024: Trat FC (H), 15th in Thai League
17 May 2024: Police Tero (A), 16th in Thai League
26 May 2024: Uthai Thani (H), 9th in Thai League
Looking at both fixtures, it is obvious that despite a five-point advantage, Buriram still has to play the high-flying Port FC, whereas True Bangkok United have a relatively weaker run in to the finale, with trips to bottom of the league Police Tero and another relegation contender Trat FC.
