Buriram hope to seal TPL crown today

Buriram hope to seal TPL crown today

Defending champs just one win away from title

Buriram United are just one victory away from retaining their Thai Premier League crown, and that win could materialise as soon as today when they take on Bangkok Glass.

Buriram United celebrate winning the League Cup last week.

Buriram are firmly placed at the top of the league table with 74 points, enjoying a massive 10-point lead over SCG Muang Thong United in second with four matches remaining.

A Buriram victory over Bangkok Glass at Leo Stadium will spell an end to this season's title race.

"We want the title race to end on Saturday [today],'' said Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob.

The defending champions, who claimed the League Cup crown last week, have been ruthless of late, winning a dozen matches in a row. They are the only team in the league sporting an unbeaten record.

Bangkok Glass got off to a flying start to the season but were then waylaid by indifferent form in the later half of the campaign.

They have won just two matches in their last 10 outings. The poor results led to Spanish coach Ricardo Rodriguez being sacked and replaced by Anurak Srikerd this week.

Buriram general manager Surapong Sawasdee said: “We are hoping to win this match to guarantee ourselves the league title again this year."

Anurak said: “Our goal is to finish in the top three to earn a place in next year's AFC Champions League play-offs.

"The game with Buriram United will be a tough match for us but we will not allow them to celebrate the TPL title at our home ground.

Muang Thong United, who now seem destined for the runners-up spot, will be at Ratchaburi Stadium tomorrow.

Muang Thong have Thitiphan Puanjan suspended for the match, but manager Kan Jantarat is not worried, saying: "We have other players who can replace him."

Kan added: "Although our chances of winning the league title have diminished, we are still not giving up the hope and we want to win this match."

Struggling BEC Tero Sasana will be hoping to avenge an earlier loss to Saraburi at home tomorrow to claw their way back to safer ground.

BEC Tero, after a string on lacklustre performances, have dropped into the three-team relegation zone.

The TPL has announced that 2016 season will commence on Feb 13 and will run until October.

The schedule has been worked out keeping in view that the AFF Suzuki Cup will take place in November next year, a TPL statement said.

Meanwhile, the Thai women's national team finished their 2015 Deaf Futsal World Cup campaign in eighth place after losing 9-4 to Iran in the a play-off match at Nimibutr Gymnasium yesterday.

Today, the Thai men will take on Iran in the title showdown at the same venue.

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