BANGKOK (13 Feb 2011) – Buriram PEA showed their seriousness to win this year’s Thai Premier League when they opened their campaign this season by beating former champions BEC Tero Sasana 2-1 yesterday at the Thephatsdin Stadium.
Thai international midfielder Suchao Nutnum gave the visitors the lead on 25 minutes before Sariff Sainui doubled the score line three minutes into the second-half.
National striker Teerathep Winothai then cut the deficit for BEC Tero with their only goal of the game seven minutes to the end.
Buriram PEA, last year’s runners-up, is owned by political heavyweight Newin Chidchob, who spent around BHT120 million (USD3.9 million) to strengthen the squad for the new season.
In the other TPL matches, Bangkok Glass went down 2-1 to Pattaya United with the latter finding the target off Ludovick Takam put (10th minute) and Hiroyuki Yamamoto (59th minute).
Bangkok’s Glass only goal in the game came off Panuwat Failai in the 28th minute.
Meanwhile, Insee Police United edged TOT SC 1-0, and Sri Racha drew 1-1 with SCG Samut Songkhram.
In the meantime, Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong United failed to make the main draw of the AFC Champions League for the second year running when they fell to a 5-4 loss on penalties to Sriwijaya FC of Indonesia at the Jaka Baring Stadium (pix).
The score at the end of regulation and extra time was 2-2.
Sriwijaya went ahead in the 49th minute when Keith Gumbs’ free-kick came off a defender went beyond Muang Thong goal keeper Kawin Thamsatchanan’s reach.
But Muang Thong maintained their composure and nine minutes to the end, Datsakorn Thonglao hit a wonderful curling free-kick to force the game into extra time.
And while Muang Thong were reduced to ten men following the second yellow card on Panupong Wongsa, still that did not deter them to take the lead for the first time in the game when when Teerasil Dangda lobbed Sriwijaya keeper Rotinsulu in the 93rd minute.
But the Indonesian side pulled level off Budi Sudarsonos’ powerful header in the 113th minute to take the game into penalties.
