Thai League 1 champions Buriram United’s unbeaten run this season came to a grinding halt on Tuesday when they were thrashed 3-0 by South Korean giants FC Seoul in an AFC Champions League Elite battle at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Choi Jun put his side ahead in the 38th minute before Jeong Seung-Won doubled the advantage in first-half injury time.
Lucas Silva added the third in the 67th minute for the hosts and FC Seoul added a win to their opening day draw with Machida Zelvia in Japan last month.
The Korean outfit sit on four points while Buriram United remain on three from two games, having won their opener against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim.
After the match, Buriram United head coach Osmar Loss reflected on a frustrating evening which was compounded by injuries.
“Football is special. If you look back at the first half, until the opening goal, the game was under control. Both teams were on an even keel but after the first goal we had three injuries, forcing us into making three substitutions — something very unusual,” said the Brazilian coach.
“In the second half, we tried to be more aggressive and attack because we were two goals down. We pushed players forward, but Seoul were clever in exploiting the spaces we left.”
FC Seoul head coach Kim Gi-Dong praised his players for overcoming a slow start to secure a convincing victory.
“Buriram are a really great team, so I’m pleased with the three points today,” said Kim.
“In the first half, we struggled a little and did not play our football. We were a bit fortunate at times but in the second half, we started to play our game and then we dominated.”
Meanwhile, in AFC Champions League Two matches tonight, hosts Ratchaburi face a tough Group F match against Japan’s Gamba Osaka and BG Pathum United visit Singapore’s Tampines Rovers for a Group H game.