Buriram United made it a two horse race with Muangthong United for the TPL title after a convincing 4-1 win at Chonburi. Buriram's joy at beating Chonburi would have been doubled when they found out that nine-man table leaders Muangthong had lost 3-1 at Suphanburi.
The opening exchanges in this contest were rather cagey with neither side committing too many men forward.
On 25 minutes the breakthrough was made when a Theerethon free kick wasn't dealt with by Sinthaweechai and Tanasak took advantage of the error to knock the ball in from close range.
Adul could have equalized a few minutes later, but fired over the bar from the edge of the box after Pipob had set him up.
In first half stoppage time, Chonburi thought they'd levelled when Thiago netted via a parried save by Sivaruk. However, the Malaysian officials thought otherwise and the goal was ruled out for offside which meant the Thunder Castle went in 1-0 to the good at half time.
Eight minutes after the interval, Adul was teed up again at the edge of the box, but this time he sliced his shot wide.
One minute later though, Buriram made it 2-0. Kai Hirano found acres of space behind the Chonburi right back, and his cross into the box was dummied by Carmelo which left the unmarked Javier Patino the simple task of side-footing home.
Thiago blazed over the bar and Pipob couldn't connect to a low cross from Kushida as the hosts tried to get quickly back into the game.
Pipob again had a glorious chance for a goal in the 75th minute, but he headed wide from inside the six yard box.
Three minutes later, the game appeared to be over when Ekkachai hit a Carmelo cutback into the roof of the net.
Chonburi could have given up, but moments later a Pipob back heeler was ruled out for offside despite it looking suspiciously onside.
Nonetheless, with nine minutes left on the clock, Narul fired home a long ball from Diakite to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
In injury time, a quickly taken free kick caught the Chonburi defence napping and Carmelo Gonzalez made it 4-1.
The win for Buriram moved them six points clear of the Sharks and with Muangthong's loss at Suphanburi, it reduced the gap at the top to only one point.
Man of the Match: Osmar Ibanez - Best defender in the TPL
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