Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Two goals in two first half minutes sent Buriram United on their way to a 2-1 win over Seongnam FC on Tuesday night, as the Thai champions made an impressive start to life in Group F of the 2015 AFC Champions League at Buriram Stadium.
Deeprom Prakit and Gilberto Macedo struck inside the opening 18 minutes to give Alexandre Gama’s side all three points despite a late own goal from Narubadin Weerawatnodom as Buriram United set their sights on surpassing their previous best performance in the continental club championship.
Match reaction: Gama: Korean experience helped clinch win for Buriram
Buriram reached the quarter-finals in 2013, where they lost to Iran’s Esteghlal, and the Thais looked in fine form against two-time Asian champions Seongnam in front of their own fans.
Macedo signalled Buriram’s intent as early as the sixth minute when he was left one-on-one with Park Jun-huk following a crafty return pass from Suchao Nutnum, only for the Seongnam goalkeeper to block the Brazilian’s shot, sending the ball wide for a corner.
Ten minutes later, however, Buriram were in front. Macedo’s shot on the turn was blocked by the Seongnam defence but as the Koreans failed to clear Deeprom slotted the ball past Park Jun-huk with a coolly taken side-footed effort from eight yards.
Just two minutes later, Buriram doubled their lead, with Macedo proving unstoppable as he raced towards goal from inside his own half, holding off the attentions of Jang Suk-won before slipping his left-foot effort beyond Park Jun-huk.
A shell-shocked Seongnam finally woke up in the 24th minute, only for Kim Sung-joon’s shot from outside the area to fly over Siwarak Tedsungnoen’s goal to safety. And in the 34th minute Kim Dong-sub headed over the bar from 10 yards out as the Buriram defence sought to keep the Koreans at bay.
Seongnam coach Kim Hak-beom attempted to rejig his team in the second half in the hope of finding a way back into the game, but Buriram held firm as Ricardo Bueno carved out of the few chances to fall Seongnam’s way after the break. However, the Brazilian was frustrated by Siwarak as he comfortably dropped to collect a 70th minute effort.
With two minutes on the clock, Seongnam finally put themselves on the scoresheet when Narubadin could do little to avoid steering a low cross from substitute Hwang Ui-jo over his own goal line, but the Thai Premier League champions were still able to pick up all three points.
Photo: WSG