Buriram United, a club from Thailand, edged its first victory in their home after beating Ulsan HD FC, a club from Korea Republic scoring 2-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 League Stage(East Zone) at Buriram Stadium, Buriram.
The visitors had the first chance in the 2nd minute when Iago Cariello attempted to break into the penalty area, but Buriram’s defense quickly intervened, allowing goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to collect the ball safely.
In the 8th minute, Buriram United earned a corner kick on the left. Lucas Crispim curled the ball into the near post, but an Ulsan defender cleared it out of the penalty area.
Ulsan nearly struck in the 12th minute through a counterattack. Mathias Rafael Lacavalli surged forward from midfield before feeding Iago Cariello, who entered the box and took a shot, but Etheridge rushed out to save with his upper leg.
Buriram responded in the 17th minute when Dion Cools launched a long throw-in towards Martin Boakye. Though the ball was intercepted, it fell to Supanat Mueanta, who advanced to the edge of the box and fired a shot, only for Ulsan goalkeeper Cho Hyun Woo to catch it comfortably.
The home side found the breakthrough in the 20th minute. A defensive lapse from Ulsan saw Jang Si Young flick the ball back, but Jung Woo Young slipped, allowing Guilherme Bissoli to pounce. He drove into the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot past Cho Hyun Woo, giving Buriram a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Buriram almost doubled their advantage. Martin Boakye collected the ball on the left and found Bissoli, who turned and fired from distance, forcing Cho Hyun Woo into a difficult save.
The visitors finally found an equalizer in stoppage time of the first half (45+1’). Daryan Bojanić played a precise through ball into the box for Jang Si Young, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and slot the ball past Etheridge, leveling the score at 1-1 before halftime.
Buriram created a clear opportunity in the 48th minute when Bissoli sent a cross into the box for Supanat Mueanta, whose header lacked power and fell safely into Cho Hyun Woo’s hands.
In the 54th minute, Buriram thought they had regained the lead. Supanat Mueanta received a pass from Lucas Crispim and curled a shot into the far post, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The hosts continued pressing in the 63rd minute when Crispim delivered a short pass to Bissoli, who unleashed a shot from outside the box, narrowly missing the right post.
Buriram’s persistence finally paid off in stoppage time (90+4’). Etheridge initiated a quick counterattack with a long pass to Dion Cools on the right flank. Cools delivered a low cross into the penalty area, where Bissoli narrowly missed at the near post. However, Supanat Mueanta was in position at the far post, firing the ball into the net while falling, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory.
With this crucial win, Buriram United collected three points, climbing to 11 points and securing a place in the knockout stage.
The result also eliminated Ulsan Hyundai FC from the competition, marking a disappointing end to their campaign.
Credit Photo : AFC
