Buriram top Jiangsu to revive qualifying hopes
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 11, 2013
Captain Suchao Nutnum and midfielder Charyl Chappuis scored as Buriram United registered a timely first win in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over China's Jiangsu Sainty keeping the Thai side firmly in the qualification picture in Group E.
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Zhou Yun of Jiangsu Sainty (L) and Ramsés Bustos of Buriram United vie for the ball. |
Suchao, making his first start of the campaign, headed home just before half-time at Buriram Stadium before Swiss-born midfielder Chappuis added a second on the hour mark.
And with Vegalta Sendai earlier also registering their first win of the campaign after edging out FC Seoul 1-0, Buriram joined the J.League side two points behind Group E leaders FC Seoul with two games remaining.
"I have to compliment the players who played very well. We had good control in defence and did not give many chances to our opponent, while we also had excellent team-work. It proved that we can win if we stay focused," said Buriram coach Attaphol Puspakom.
"I am happy with the victory, but we will not look any further than this as we need to plan our strategy match by match.
"Regarding the injury to Charyl Chappuis, I will have to wait for the medical report but I don't think he will be able to play in the next match against in the AFC Champions League against Vegalta Sendai, although we still have good player to rotate.
"We need to win our next home game to improve of chance of reaching the next stage."
After losing 2-0 in China last week, Buriram enjoyed the better of the early chances with Jiangsu goalkeeper Deng Xiaofei forced to push a stinging drive from Osmar Barra wide of the upright.
Buriram were eventually rewarded six minutes before half-time as captain Suchao headed home Theerathon Bunmanthan's cross.
And Buriram doubled their lead on the hour mark as Kai Hirano's low right wing cross found Chappuis racing through into the penalty area and the midfielder slid in to divert the ball past Deng and into the roof of the net.
Chappuis, though, appeared to suffer a knee injury as he celebrated in front of the Buriram fans and was stretched off.
Buriram's lead, though, was never really threatened by Jiangsu as the Chinese Super League dropped to the foot of the table after suffering a second defeat of the campaign, although Dragan Okuka's side are just a point adrift of both Buriram and Sendai.
"We did not play well. I thought that we could win, but Buriram played better," said Okuka.
"We will try to fix our mistakes from this game and look to get three points from the next match against FC Seoul."
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