Melbourne City have slipped from the top of their Asian Champions League group after falling to a 1-0 home defeat against Thai side Buriram United.
Undefeated in their group heading into Wednesday’s contest at AAMI Park, success would have guaranteed City at least a three-point buffer atop group H with two games to go before the knockout stages.
Instead, their defeat, combined with Ventforet Kofu’s 4-1 win over Chinese outfit Zhejiang in another Wednesday kickoff, has enabled the Japanese side to go top on goals scored, as well as leaving the A-League Men premiers just a point above third-placed Buriram.
Only group winners are guaranteed progression, with the three best second-placed finishers from the East region to join them in the knockout stages.
Melbourne City’s Jamie McLaren. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
City had downed Buriram 2-0 in Thailand a fortnight ago but had a new face in the dugout for the return leg with Aurelio Vidmar taking charge of his second game after Rado Vidosic was sacked last week following a horror start to the ALM season.
But while Vidmar had won in his first game against Sydney FC last Friday, he could only watch on in dismay as his side failed to penetrate the ‘Thunder Castle’ defence before being made to pay when Goran Causic fired home an 86th-minute penalty after a handball by Aziz Behich.
“We had a fair bit of the game but we really lacked a little bit of an edge in the front,” said Vidmar.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose.
“A draw would have been a fair result but that’s the way it is, we’ve hit a bit of a speed bump and gotta get on with it.”
City twice had goals disallowed for offside in the opening stanza, the first coming in the 29th minute when Jamie Maclaren had a close-range finish ruled out and the second in the 41st when Tolgay Arslan followed up a saved effort from his skipper.
But despite seeing less of the ball throughout the contest, Buriram, led by former Newcastle Jets coach Arthur Papas, adjusted at the interval and clamped down in the second 45.
They then finished strongly and grabbed a winner.
Buriram players and staff jubilantly celebrated with a sizeable contingent of supporters at fulltime, while the family of Mebourne-born Papas were in the stands watching on.
“The reaction at the end tells you everything,” Papas said.
“It’s a pretty special night for this club.”
© AAP
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
The Matilda scored the first two of her team's goals in the 4-0 win.
With the Liverpool manager leaving the club after this season, his West Ham rival can't wait for him to go - in the nicest…
Arsenal have survived a late scare at Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham to stay narrowly ahead in the compelling race for the Premier League title. A…
At the time this column usually goes live next Monday morning, I’ll be in the stands at Selhurst Park watching Crystal Palace take on…
And just like that, another A-League regular season (sans one game) is in the books and we look ahead to the finals. Let's recap…
Salah was dropped from the starting side for the visit to London - and the striker was involved in a furious confrontation with Klopp…
