Mighty Melbourne fire two to tame Buriram with ease
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Mighty Melbourne fire two to tame Buriram with ease

Kawasaki Frontale's Takuma Ominami, right, vies with Pathum United's Chanathip Songkrasin during their AFC Champions League match.
Kawasaki Frontale's Takuma Ominami, right, vies with Pathum United's Chanathip Songkrasin during their AFC Champions League match.

Thai League 1 champions Buriram United suffered a 2-0 home loss to Australia's Melbourne City in Group I of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday.

In the other Group I game, China's Zhejiang beat Ventforet Kofu of Japan by the same scoreline.

After three games, Melbourne have seven points, Kofu four, Buriram three and Zhejiang three.

At Chang Arena, Alessandro Lopane gave Melbourne the lead after 22 minutes with a headed goal.

The visitors made it 2-0 on 41 minutes, thanks to a strike by captain Jamie Maclaren.

Meanwhile, Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United are still looking for their first point of the 2023-24 ACL campaign after losing to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Daiya Tono put the J1 League side in front after 14 minutes and Igor Sergeev ensured the hosts went in level at half-time with his 45th-minute strike in the Group I match.

In the second half, goals from Kento Tachibanada, Marcinho and Takuma Ominami gave the visitors a 4-1 lead.

Pathum, led by former Kawasaki player Chanathip Songkrasin, got a consolation goal from Victor Cardoso's penalty kick.

In the other Group I game, South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai beat Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia 3-1.

After three games, Frontale have nine points, Ulsan six, Johor three and Pathum zero.

Surachai Jaturapattarapong, BG coach for the continental contest, said his men failed to maintain their first-half standard.

"In the second half, we experienced a decline in performance due to their [Frontale] superior physical condition," said Surachai.

Ronaldo stunners

Cristiano Ronaldo rolled back the years to score two stunning goals and propel his Al-Nassr side to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Al Duhail of Qatar in the AFC Champions League in Riyadh.

Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane and Anderson Talisca also scored for the Saudi side on Tuesday as they made it three wins from three in the group stages of the premier Asian club competition.

"When you face Ronaldo, there isn't much you can do," said Al Duhail manager Christophe Galtier, who was in charge of Paris Saint-Germain last season. 

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