Buriram coach bitter about missed chance
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Buriram United were hurting yesterday after missing out on a significant opportunity to take a big step towards qualification for the AFC Champions League knockout stage. The Thai FA Cup winners conceded a last-gasp goal in Wednesday night's game against
The Thai team looked to have clinched the win that would have put them in pole position to snatch the only remaining qualification spot in the group, after pacesetters FC Seoul earlier secured their passage into the next round with a 2-0 away victory over Chinese outfit Jiangsu Sainty.
However, Buriram were unable to protect the lead courtesy of Spanish central defender Osmar Ibanez’s 53rd-minute goal, and allowed substitute forward Takayuki Nakahara to salvage a draw for the visitors in the last minute of stoppage time at the I-Mobile stadium.
The result left the two sides level on six points from five matches, only two ahead of the basement team Jiangsu with one game remaining, meaning all the three still have a chance to follow the Koreans into the last-16 stage.
The fact that Buriram face what may seem the easier fixture in the final round of group matches next week, when they visit the already-qualified K-League outfit, failed to lift the mood of coach Atthaphol Puspakom, who was left ruing an error from keeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen that led to Nakahara’s equaliser.
“We should have won this home match. Our players were at their best in both attacking and defending, but unfortunately they lost their concentration in the last two minutes before the whistle.
“This does not help us qualify for the next round, but we will try our best in the away game with FC Seoul. It will certainly be a hard game for us, but we have to keep the faith,” said Attaphol, who guided BEC Tero Sasana to the inaugural AFC Champions League final in 2003.
The fate of Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong United, the other Thai representatives in the continent’s elite club competition, was sealed when they succumbed to a fourth consecutive defeat with a 2-0 loss away to 2006 winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Group F.
Muang Thong coach Slavisa Jokanovic, who won the league unbeaten in his first season in charge of the team last term, believes his men have learnt valuable lessons from their debut campaign in the tournament.
“It was not easy against Jeonbuk, as we expected. They have very good players and are one of the best teams in Asia.
“We are the best team from Thailand, but it is not easy at this level. But this is our first time in the AFC Champions League and it has been a good opportunity to play at a higher level,” said former Chelsea player Jokanovic.
