Buriram draws with JDT
Neil Etheridge made a late penalty save as 10-man Buriram United held on to claim a 1-1 draw with Johor Darul Ta’zim at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Tuesday in the opening round of matches in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The former Philippines goalkeeper kept out Bergson da Silva’s 87th minute spot-kick, saving at full stretch to his right to push the ball to safety after Arif Aiman had been brought down in the area by defender Eduardo Mancha.
That crucial intervention came after Stefan Schimmer had scored in the 43rd minute for Buriram United to cancel out Oscar Arribas’ 26th minute opener, when Etheridge should have done better to keep out the long range effort.
Kenny Dougall was sent off 12 minutes into the second half for a second bookable offence while JDT also finished the game with 10 men when Eddy Israfilov was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Uros Radakovic in the 89th minute.
JDT made a positive start with Arif forcing Etheridge into action in the sixth minute while Kevin Medina headed wide across the face of goal for the home side from close range at an Arif corner three minutes later.
Etheridge was called into action again to deny Shahab Zahedi but in the 26th minute the former Cardiff City man should have done better to keep out Arribas’ long range attempt.
The JDT midfielder was fed possession 22 yards from goal by Arif and, while his shot moved in the air, Etheridge was left furious that he could only palm the strike into his own goal.
Buriram United’s forays into their opponents’ half had been rare but, with two minutes remaining in the half, the Thai champions were level, the equaliser coming in spectacular fashion.
Midfielder Darlan was unopposed as he carried the ball midway into JDT territory and he calmly delivered a perfect lofted pass towards Schimmer that the German fizzed across Syihan Hazmi and into the bottom corner with a clinical volley.
Halftime substitute Bergson forced Etheridge into action soon after the restart, the Buriram United goalkeeper blocking the Brazilian’s powerful strike, while Marcos Guilherme slid his shot across the visitors’ goal in the 56th minute.
Buriram United’s hopes suffered a blow moments later when Dougall dived in on Nacho Mendez and, having already been booked, the Australian was making the long walk back to the changing rooms after referee Majed Al Shamrani showed a second yellow card.
JDT continued to crank up the pressure with Bergson hitting the crossbar and that paid off when Mancha brought down Arif only for Etheridge to make amends for his earlier error.
Israfilov was shown a straight red card for his foul on Radakovic before Arif hit the woodwork and Medina’s header was cleared off the line in a frantic finish.
RESULTS
Al Hilal (Ksa) bt Al Gharafa (Qat) 2-1; Al Ain (UAE) bt Al Nassr (Ksa) 4-0
Johor Darul Ta’azim (Mas) drew Buriram United (Tha) 1-1
Beijing FC (Chn) bt pohasmg Steelers (Kor) 3-1
Kashima Antlers (Jpn) bt Newcastle Jets (Aus) 7-1; Shanghai Port (Chn) bt Ratchaburi (Tha) 6-4; Gamba Osaka (Jpn) bt Cong An Ha (Vie) 4-1; Daejeon Hanacitizen (Kor) bt Kyoto Sanga (Jpn) 1-0
