Ten-man Buriram United sealed an impressive 2-0 home win over Japan's Cerezo Osaka in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night.
Two headed goals by Venezuelan defender Andres Tunez, in the second minute, and Brazilian striker Edgar Bruno, in the second half, finished off the J-League club who previously led Group G.
Buriram captain Jakkraphan Kaewprom was sent off with 15 minutes remaining but the Thunder Castle managed to fend off Cerezo's late charge.
The win revived Buriram's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage of the continental club championship.
In yesterday's other Group G match, China's Guangzhou Evergrande beat South Korea's Jeju United 5-3.
Fabio Cannavaro's Guangzhou now lead the group with five points after three games, and are followed by Buriram (four), Cerezo (four) and Jeju (three).
At Chang Arena, Thai League 1 champions Buriram, who were without their top striker Diogo Luis Santo, got off to a fast start when a corner by Korrakot Wiriyaudomsiri found Tunez who headed the ball into the back of the net in the second minute.
The Japanese piled the pressure on the Thai League 1 leaders and got a couple of chances but were denied by Buriram goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnern.
Edgar had a couple of opportunities but failed to score in the first half.
The Japanese returned strongly in the second half but could not beat in-form Siwarak.
But it was the home team who scored again in the 53rd minute when Jakkraphan's cross found Edgar whose header beat Cerezo goalkeeper Kenta Tanno.
Jakkraphan was sent off for a foul in the 75th minute. Osaka threw everything at the Thunder Castle but could not break the home side's steely defence.
Buriram will next play Cerezo in Osaka on March 14.
The top two teams of each group reach the knockout stage.
On Monday, an injury-time equaliser denied Al Ahli an ACL victory in Doha as the Saudi side became the first from a boycotting nation to play in Qatar since the beginning of the Gulf crisis.
On a politically charged night in the Qatari capital, the Saudis were only able to draw 1-1 with Wesley Sneijder's Al Gharafa.
Al Ahli took the lead through a Aqeel Balghaith header in the 62nd minute, and looked good to extend their 100 percent start to the group stage, having won their first two games.
But a 91st-minute scrambled goal from Gharafa defender Rubert Quijada ensured a diplomatic draw.
The game had strong political overtones, taking place on the nine-month anniversary of an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Gulf.