Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Buriram: Buriram United breathed new life into their 2018 AFC Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Group G rivals Cerezo Osaka on Matchday Three on Tuesday.
The result ended Buriram’s run of eight games without a win in the tournament and drew them level on four points with the J.League side.
The hosts made a positive start and opened the scoring after two minutes. Korrakot Wiriya-udomsiri’s inswinging corner from the right was glanced into the net from close range by Andres Tunez’s header.
Just two minutes later, Korrakot’s free-kick from the right bounced off the top of the bar.
Cerezo worked their way into the game and came close to equalising in the 23rd minute when Hiroto Yamada was put through on goal but his shot was pushed wide by Sivarak Tedsungnoen.
After a quiet start to the second half, the game came to life when Edgar added Buriram’s second goal in the 54th minute. Jakkaphan Kaewprom swung in a great cross from the left and the Brazilian striker leapt to head the ball across Kenta Tanno and into the corner.
Minutes later, Yamada missed a great chance to pull one back. After seizing on hesitant defending, he powered into the box but his low shot lacked the power to beat Sivarak.
Buriram suffered a huge blow when Jakkaphan received a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle with just under 15 minutes remaining.
But the home side almost added a third when Tanno had to make a double save in a goalmouth scramble after he had fumbled a Korrakot free-kick.
The 10-man Thai champions held on and will travel to Osaka with confidence as they get set to face the same opponents next Wednesday.