My Favourite Match
by Jamie Pinder
AFC Champions League
Buriram Utd v Brisbane Roar
i-mobile Stadium
13th February, 2013
It's hard to pick one. There have been so many wonderful days, winning titles on our ground on the final day of the season (sorry!), winning at Bangkok Glass, cup finals, away days, but I'm going back a while for my most memorable.
February 13th 2013 and the I-Mobile Stadium (as it was then) was newly open with a 24,000 seat capacity (the corners were still open allowing for a cooling breeze to drift through the stadium). We were hosting Brisbane Roar in an AFC Champions League Qualifier which should have been hosted in Brisbane but due to their ground being used for the Rugby League World Cup, we got to play at home.
The stadium was far from full but it seemed like every fan was going to cheer their hearts out. Over the 90 minutes of normal play and the 30 extra minutes, Brisbane probably had the better chances and their solitary fan in the away end thought he was in for a good night out after the match. Sorry, cobber, it doesn't always work that way.
It all came down to a penalty shoot out at our end of the ground and, let's be honest,unless you're some kind of masochist, nobody enjoys them. I've not been to many games where they've gone to a shoot out but it's very nervy and the crowd make the atmosphere quite spooky. As each player approaches the penalty spot., there's either cheering or booing and abuse and I truly wouldn't want to be in their shoes.
On the night, as often happens, the Buriram goalkeeper was magnificent. I can recall the level of noise as their first player prepared to take his keep. I don't think I've heard such a noisy stadium since then, and it was only half full. Their first guys strolls up and it's acrobatically saved by the keeper. Up steps our skipper Osmar Ibanez to bury his in the corner. Unbelievably, the Buriram keeper saves the first three penalties and it's up to a rather young looking Anawin (I think) to finish it off. 3-0 to the Thunder Castle and the keeper was absolutely mobbed.
What made it all really special was the players, who usually approach one section of the crowd to sing the club song, moved to the center circle, faced all corners of the ground and the song was belted out at a volume which would have blessed the disco truck at a Thai wedding.
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