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Buriram United FC defeated Police United on Sunday evening to defend the Thai Premier League title they won last year, with star striker Carmelo Gonzalez proving his worth once again at the New I-Mobile stadium in Thailand. With reigning champions Buriram and Choburi FC level on 76 points, the final matchday of the 2014 Thai Premier League season was a tense affair with both teams knowing victory could set them on their way to the coveted league trophy. Buriram managed a hard fought 2-1 win at home to Police, with Carmelo Gonzalez opening the scoring in the 10th minute before the two teams played out the rest of the first-half without adding to the scoreline. Police were dealt a huge blow in the second period when Adul Muensaman gave away a penalty in the 64th minute, which also earned him a red card to hand the advantage to the home side. David Rochela stepped up and slotted in the resulting spot kick to give Buriram a two-goal lead before Police pulled one back three minutes later through Surachart Sareepim. The rest of the match saw Buriram hold on to their slender lead and the Thunder Castles were crowned champions for a second consecutive year, having won it back in 2013 along with their previous two titles in 2008 and 2011. Chonburi started their final home game against TOT Sport Club on the front foot and took a 1-0 half-time lead courtesy of a goal from East Timor striker Thiago Cunha on 23 minutes. Head coach Masahiro Wada's men could not capitalise on their one-goal lead and were left to rue a couple of missed chances as the visitors leveled the game through an own-goal from Suttinun Phuk-hom in the 57th minute. The Sharks could not regroup in time and had to settle for a 1-1 draw which handed the title to Buriram, in what was still a successful debut season for former J-League side Vissel Kobe head coach Wada. TOT's draw, along with Police's loss at the hands of champions Buriram saw the latter relegated to the 2015 Thai League One along with PTT Rayong, Songkhla United, Air Force Central and Samut Songkhram. Thai domestic giants Muang Thong United suffered a 3-2 loss to Bangkok United at the SCG stadium while BEC Tero Sasana finished their season with a disappointing 2-1 loss away to Chiangrai United.
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