Buriram set to go all out for victory

Buriram set to go all out for victory

to go all out for victory against Buriram going for jugular

Buriram players train in Jeju yesterday.
Buriram players train in Jeju yesterday.

Thai champions Buriram United must beat Jeju United in South Korea in their final Group G game of the AFC Champions League today to stand any chance of advancing to the last-16 round.

In today's other Group G match, China's Guangzhou Evergrande host Japan's Cerezo Osaka.

Guangzhou have nine points, Cerezo eight, Buriram six and Jeju three.

With head-to-head results among tied teams to determine rankings, Buriram will qualify for the next round if they win and Cerezo do not defeat Guangzhou.

If the Japanese side win in China, then the goal difference will decide which of the two sides -- Buriram and Guangzhou -- go through. Buriram have a better head-to-head record against Cerezo.

The Thais drew with Guangzhou twice but the Chinese have a superior goal difference, plus four against Buriram's zero.

South Korea's Yoo Jun-Soo scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Guangzhou two weeks ago as a 1-1 draw left Buriram in the hunt for progression, while Jeju were eliminated after a 2-1 defeat to Osaka.

Buriram go into the game on the back of a win after their 3-1 victory over Port earlier this month before the Songkran break.

The Thunder Castle are seven points clear in Thai League 1 after just 10 rounds of fixtures.

Injury-hit Buriram have only 16 fit players with defender Narubadin Weerawatnodom and midfielder Ratthanakorn Maikami ruled out and defender Pansa Hemviboon a doubt.

But Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob is upbeat about his team's chance of avenging their loss to Jeju, who won 2-0 at Chang Arena earlier in the campaign.

"Jeju are not easy opponents as they are K-League runners-up and they also beat us 2-0 at home," Newin said.

"We must not make too many mistakes. We have to learn lessons from our defeat against them in the previous meeting.

"Although we will miss Narubadin and Ratthanakorn, we still have other players who can play in their positions. We will go all out to progress to the next round," Newin said.

Buriram's strikeforce will be led by Brazilian duo Diogo Luis Santo and Edgar Bruno.

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