JDT loses to Thai giants Buriram United, ending journey in AFC Champions League Elite

PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) journey in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL) has ended after they lost to Thai giants Buriram United 0-1 in the second-leg last-16 match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Tuesday.

Buriram advanced to the quarter-finals 1-0 on aggregate. Thai winger Suphanat Muenta scored the winner in the 57th minute.

JDT thought they had scored after just 47 seconds when Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva capitalised on a rebound off winger Arif Aiman Hanapi’s shot but it was ruled out for offside after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.

Buriram had a good chance to take the lead in the seventh minute but Brazilian winger Guilherme Bissoli’s shot was well saved by JDT goalkeeper Andoni Zubiaurre.

JDT should have drawn first blood in the 27th minute but midfielder Afiq Fazail’s shot off a defensive rebound hit the right post.

In the second-half, Buriram threatened to score in the 52nd minute when Austrian midfielder Peter Zulj’s stinging shot from 20m went just inches wide.

Five minutes later, the away side broke the deadlock when Suphanat curled in a left-footed shot to beat Zubiaurre.

In the 70th minute, JDT coach Hector Bidoglio took off Da Silva for Brazilian playmaker Heberty Fernandes to add more dynamism to their attack but it was all in vain.

A tenacious Buriram side continued to dominate and despite seven minutes of injury time added on by match referee Ahmed Al-Ali, it simply wasn’t the Southern Tigers’ night.