The Lion City Sailors and Buriram United concluded their intense clash at the Jalan Besar Stadium with a hard-fought draw on Thursday night. Despite playing with a numerical advantage for the entire second half, the Sailors were unable to capitalize, allowing Buriram United to secure a potentially crucial point in their pursuit of a top-two finish in Group B. The match was marked by strategic plays and unexpected turns, with both teams displaying resilience and tenacity.
Buriram United, known as the most successful team in Thai football, entered the match with the ambition of clinching an unprecedented fourth consecutive League 1 crown. The Lion City Sailors, on the other hand, sought to leverage their home advantage and the creative prowess of Belgian winger Maxime Lestienne. Lestienne was pivotal in the attacking third, orchestrating moves that kept Buriram's defense on high alert.
Initially controlling possession, Buriram United surprised many by excelling in counterattacks. Lestienne's influence was felt early on but was curtailed when he received a yellow card in the 42nd minute. The decision was later upgraded to a red card after a pitchside review, adding to the drama of the match. Despite this setback, the Sailors continued to push forward.
In a key moment in the 56th minute, Lestienne's poor first touch led to a breakaway that saw Sailors' goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud make an impressive fingertip save to deny Guilherme Bissoli's fierce drive. This save kept the scoreline intact and provided hope for the home side. The Sailors' best opportunity came in the 77th minute when Song Ui-Young's downward header forced Buriram's keeper Chatchai Budprom into a reflex save. However, Song's follow-up effort from close range sailed over the bar, much to the dismay of the home fans.
Buriram's Kenny Dougall made a rare error that almost gifted the Sailors with a scoring chance. Dougall's evening took a turn for the worse when he was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for a last-man foul just before halftime. This incident meant that Buriram had to contend with being a man down for the entirety of the second half.
The numerical advantage saw Sailors' Lennart Thy frequently threatening to breach Buriram's defenses. Despite these efforts, Buriram held firm. Lestienne managed to unleash a trademark curling effort from the right that smashed against the woodwork, illustrating the fine margins that defined this encounter.
Reflecting on the match, Sailors' coach Aleksandar Ranković expressed his sentiments:
"I was sharing the same frustration as the players, They really wanted to win."
- Aleksandar Ranković
He further emphasized his team's intent:
"We never play for a draw, no matter what. I've never said that to my players before."
- Aleksandar Ranković
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