End of a dream run
Jeonbuk hand Buriram their first defeat
SINGAPORE: Former title-holders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors halted Buriram United’s dream run 2-0 on Wednesday as the unheralded Thai outfit suffered their first defeat of the AFC Champions League.
First-half goals from former Middlesbrough marksman Lee Dong-gook and Seo Sang-min silenced the crowd at Thunder Castle Stadium and handed Jeonbuk, the 2006 Asian champions, their debut points of the season.
Despite the setback Buriram, winner of Thailand’s treble last season, remain top of Grouphand South Korea’s Jeonbuk are still bottom, one point adrift of Kashiwa Reysol and Guangzhou Evergrande who fought to a 0-0 draw.
J-league winners Kashiwa found their playmakers nullified by big-spending Guangzhou, the reigning Chinese champions, who also looked dangerous going forward. But in a tense match, neither side could claim the breakthrough.
“We had several chances to score while they also had chances,” said Kashiwa’s Brazilian coach, Nelsinho.
“It was good that my players experienced a game where we can’t make a mistake.”
In Australia, Brisbane Roar clung on for a 1-1 draw with South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai despite having defender Matt Jurman sent off just after half-time.
The Australian champions had gone ahead through striker Nick Fitzgerald on 36 minutes before Jurman was given his marching orders for fouling Korean midfielder Kim Seung-yong in the box.
Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos saved the spot-kick but the Roar were guilty of some slack defending when Lee Jae-seong equalised from a corner on 54 minutes.
The result left Group F unchanged at the halfway point after leaders FC Tokyo also drew 1-1 with Beijing Guoan.
At Beijing’s Workers Stadium, Wang Xiaolong converted a penalty in the 11th minute for the home side but tokyo’s aria jasuru Hasegawa equalised just before half-time.
Qatar’s hopes of repeating Al-sadd’s win in last year’s final grew ever remoter as both their sides in action on Wednesday lost compounding the misery of Lekhwiya’s defeat on Tuesday to Sepahan.
Al Arabi went down 3-1 away at Uzbek giants Pakhtakor in Group B whilst Al Gharafa were heavier losers, falling 3-0 at home to Iranians Piroozi Athletic in their Group D clash.
While Al Arabi remain pointless Saudi side Al-ittihad made it nine points from a possible nine in Group B as they squeezed out a 1-0 win at home to Bani Yas, an 80th minute penalty by Naif Hazazi making the difference.
Even Al Rayyan’s 3-1 home win over Uzbek side Nasaf on Tuesday could prove to be a lost cause for the Qataris as Emirates side Al Jazira have won three from three and are clear leaders in Group A.
Al-sadd failed to qualify for this season’s tournament.