A late goal helped Buriram United notch up a crucial 2-1 win over second-placed Bangkok United and widen the gap at the top of Thai League 1 to four points last night.
The home game did not start well for the Thunder Castle as the defending champions went into the arrears very early in the match.
A low drive by Vander Luíz was fumbled by experienced Buriram goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen and left the net wide open for a charging Robson Fernandes to put Bangkok United ahead.
The Thunder Castle equalised through a 24th-minute strike by Korrakot Wiriyaudomsiri.
The defending champions regrouped and were the better side as they wrested control late in the first half.
Their Brazilian striker Diogo Luis Santo came close to scoring but his attempt was warded off by Bangkok United goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard. Diogo also sent a shot flying over the bar early in the second half.
Bangkok United's only real chance of netting their second came when Vander Luis had a shot at the goal which was saved by Siwarak.
The match was heading for a draw, which would have been enough for the home team to retain their one-point lead at the top, but then Sasalak Haiprakhon struck for them during the last three minutes.
A series of short exchanges left unmarked Sasalak with a clear view of the goal and he made no mistake with a low shot to grab the winner for the home team.
Meanwhile, a one-goal victory over hosts Ubon UMT United by visiting Port last night kept them out of fourth-place SCG Muang Thong United's reach for at least one more week.
Port sustained their four-point advantage over the Kirins, who host PT Prachuap in the main match of tonight's fixtures, thanks to a goal by David Rochela late in the first half.
Ubon remained firmly riveted to 17th place in the 18-team league with their relegation to the lower tier now fast turning into a reality. The northeastern club has picked up only 14 points from their 21 matches so far.
The hosts put on a full attacking display from the beginning of the match and had a chance from 30 yards, but Serbian Srdan Dimitrov was denied by Port goalkeeper Rattanai Songsangchan.
The only goal of the match came in the 43rd minute when Pakorn Prempak's floater from the corner was headed home by Rochela to put the Port 1-0 ahead.
In the second half, Ubon had a lot of ball but could not pierce through the Port defence wall which held firm until the end to give the visitors three points.
Meanwhile, bottom-placed Air Force Central played some impressive football but it was not enough to help them avoid a 3-2 defeat at the hands Pattaya United in a see-saw battle.
Chayawat Srinawong gave Pattaya the upper hand in the 15th of the game, but Greg Houla quickly restored parity for the home side.
Suphanan Bureerat was on target shortly before the break for Pattaya, who squandered the lead one more time by letting Jirawat Makarom net the equaliser for Air Force only a few minutes into the second half.
Lukian Almeida dealt the decisive blow for Pattaya in the 53rd minute.
Five more matches are to be played tonight.
