Buriram crash out in quarterfinal
Buriram United's fairytale run in the AFC Champions League came screething to an end after the Thai FA Cup winners suffered a 3-1 aggregate loss to Iranian giants Esteghlal in their quarterfinal tie yesterday.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Iranian capital last month, the Thai Premier League club’s hopes of overturning the deficit received a major boost when towering centre back Osmar Ibanez guided a downward header from a Jirawat Makkharom corner into the far post to drag his side level on aggregate.
The Iranian champions, though, emerged with a renewed vigour after the break and defender Hanif Zadeh put his side back in the driving seat with a crucial away goal only eight minutes into the second half.
Any remaining hopes of a dramatic comeback for the home side were left in tatters when former Bolton midfielder Anderanik Teymourian lashed home a thunderous drive from outside the area in added time to ensure his side a spot in the semifinal against FC Seoul, who edged past Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli 1-0 on aggregate.
