Buriram United continued their steady rise up the Thai League 1 table with a 2-0 away victory over Sukhothai last night.
The upshot enabled the Thunder Castle to leapfrog arch-rivals SCG Muang Thong United into eighth place. Both sides have 17 points from 12 matches, but Buriram have a better goal difference.
Buriram’s first goal was a brilliant solo effort by Kevin Ingreso.
The Philippines midfielder dribbled past a Sukhothai defender and squeezed his way into the box to fire home a low drive from the right on 32 minutes.
Thailand striker Supachai Jaided added his name to the list of scorers with a fine strike to end a long goal drought and double Buriram’s advantage three minutes after the break.
Zaw Min Htun of Sukhothai was redcarded in the last minute of the match.
Former champions Muang Thong United’s brief resurgence under new coach Mario Gjurovski showed more signs of waning as the Kirins were held to a 1-1 home draw by Nakhon Ratchasima which left them pinned to ninth spot in the table last night.
The draw for Muang Thong come hot on the heels of a 2-1 away loss to Chiang Rai United on Wednesday.
Muang Thong were awarded a firsthalf penalty after the VAR ruled that Leandro Assumpcao had handled the ball inside the box.
Derley made a mess of the opportunity twice — his first shot off the spot hit the post but Nakhon Ratchasima goalkeeper Thanachai Noorach had left his place before the whistle. The Brazilian then fired the re-taken penalty wide off the target.
The Kirins succeeded in getting a goal in the 45th minute when Mirzaev Sardor was fouled inside the box by Swat Cats defender Adisak Harntes and this time Willian Popp got the job done by converting from the spot.
The Kirins’ joy was short-lived as Dennis Murillo ensured a point for the visitors by grabbing the leveller just eight minutes after the break.
Elsewhere, Ratchaburi recorded a convincing 3-1 victory over Samut Prakan City last night to stay put in fourth place in the league with 23 points.