Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Osaka: Cerezo Osaka of Japan and Thailand’s Buriram United played out a thrilling 2-2 draw on Wednesday to ensure things remain incredibly tight in Group G of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Buriram took the lead in just the 11th minute at Osaka Nagai Stadium, as Yang Dong-hyun flicked Rattanakorn Maikami’s corner from the left beyond his own keeper Kim Jin-hyeon at the near post.
Yang atoned for that error in the 65th minute, converting a powerful header from a Yusuke Maruhashi cross deep on the left, but Buriram re-established their lead from another Maikami corner just six minutes later, Diogo this time heading home at the far post.
Kenyu Sugimoto ensured the spoils would be shared in the 88th minute, however, adding a towering header of his own after a Hotaru Yamaguchi cross.
The draw leaves Buriram second in the group on five points, three behind leaders Guangzhou Evergrande, while Cerezo also have five points but sit third on goal difference with two games left to play.
Next up on April 3, Cerezo welcome Korea Republic’s Jeju United to Osaka while Buriram play host to two-time champions Guangzhou.