By Pearse McLaughlin
Thailand’s Buriram United drew 2-2 against South Korea’s Gwangju FC in the eighth and final match of the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) League Stage in the 2024-25 season at Gwangju World Cup Stadium on Tuesday the 18th of February.
Buriram seemed to get the upper hand early on. Buriram finished the first half 2-0 with goals in the 13th minute from Bissoli who swept home from close range following a terrific cutback from Suphanat Mueanta. Bissoli then turned creator for Buriram's second in the 35th minute, teeing up Martin Boakye for the Italian to fire home inside the box when he blasted the ball past Kim Kyeong-Min at his near post.
Buriram needed only a point away from home to progress and first-half goals from Guilherme Bissoli and Martin Boakye put the Thai champions in full control in their final game of the league stage.
Gwangju had also confirmed its advance to the round of 16 regardless of the results of the match against Buriram. However, Gwangju did not give up on the game. Double substitution of Lee Min-Gi and Reis at the start of the second half sparked Gwangju FC into life as they increased the speed of their passing and where more on the front foot and created chances at will.
A quickfire double from Oh Hu-Seong in the 23rd and 29th minutes of the second half brought Gwangju right back into it before Buriram steadied the ship late on to escape with the draw they needed.
The first of the two goals scored by Oh Hu-Seong was assisted by first half substitute Park In-Hyeok who made a massive difference to the side as he added a focal point to Gwangju FC which they lacked early on in the early stages. But all credit has to go to Jasir Asani's pre assist as his defence splitting pass was Messiesque to pick out the run of Park In-Hyeok who cut the ball back to Oh Hu-Seong on the penalty spot who swept the ball into the side netting emphatically.
Oh Hu-Seong’s second goal was a deflected strike that swept its way past Neil Etheridge in goal following a second phase from Reis’s free kick from the right hand side which caused Buriram United problems. Oh was the quickest to react in the second phase of the set piece as the ball broke to him on the edge of the box before he quickly shifted the ball onto his stronger right foot and fired a shot towards goal which took a massive deflection which wrong footed Etheridge and went into the bottom left hand corner.
It was a game of two halves where each side won each half two nil. Buriram United couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game and were in cruise control having scored two goals and nullified Gwangju FC to very little chances. Second half flipped completely when Lee Jung-Hyo brought on Lee Min-Gi and Reis at the start of the second half. The driving force behind the team was Jasir Asani and Reis but the man of the moment was Oh Hu-Seong with two second half goals and a man of the match performance but Buriram held on to claim the point they needed.
The top eight sides in the AFC Champions League Elite East zone advance from the 12-team table. Japan's Kawasaki Frontale, who were already assured a place in the knock-out round, beat Australia's Central Coast Mariners 2-0 at home. Japan's Yokohama F-Marinos and Vissel Kobe had already qualified.
Total attendance tonight at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium was 2,688.
Next up for Gwangju FC is a return to league action on Sunday the 23rd of February where they make the short journey across to Jeonju to face Gus Poyet’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC with the match set for a 4:30pm kick off time (KST).
Buriram United also return to league action on Sunday night where they travel away to Muang Thong United and the match is set 9pm kick off time (KST).
Gwangju FC: Kim Kyeong-Min, Kim Jin-Ho, Ahn Young-Kyu, Jo Sung-Kwon, Kwon Seong-Yun (Lee Min-Gi 46’), Oh Hu-Seong (Lee Kang-Hyeon 86’), Park Tae-Joon, Hwang Jae-Hwan (Park In-Hyeok 24’), Kang Hui-Su (Reis 46’), Sin Chang-Moo (Park Jeong-In 67’), Jasir Asani. Subs not used: Roh Hee-Dong, Kim Han-Gil, An Hyeok-Joo, Moon Min-Seo.
Buriram United: Neil Etheridge, Ko Myeong-Seok, Kenneth Dougall, Curtis Good, Dion Cools, Kim Min-Hyeok, Goran Causic, Lucas Crispim, Martin Boakye (Supachai Chaided 69’), Suphanat Mueanta (Sasalak Haiprakhon 75’), Bissoli. Subs not used: Chatchai Bootprom, Jefferson David Tabinas, Marcelo Djalo, Narubodin Weerawatnodom, Pansa Hemviboon, Athit Berg, Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul, Ratthanakorn Maikami, Seksan Ratree.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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