Ekkachai inspires Buriram to a first-leg victory
Play
Substitute Ekkachai Samre helped Buriram United gain upper hand over Uzbekistan side Bunyodkor following a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the AFC Champions League last-16 first leg at the packed I-Mobile stadium yesterday.
Ekkachai grabbed the winner in the 77th minute for the Thai FA Cup winners, who became the country's first side to qualify for the knockout stage since BEC Tero Sasana reached the final of the continent's elite club competition a decade ago, after Igor Taran's strike on stroke of halftime cancelled out Anawin Jujeen's headed effort for the hosts.
Buriram will try to protect their slender advantage in the next week's second leg in Tashkent, with a quaterfinal spot at stake.
