Buriram United Dash JDT's ACLE Quarterfinal Hopes

ISKANDAR PUTERI, March 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysian football powerhouse Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2024/2025 Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) championship after losing 0-1 to Thailand’s Buriram United at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, here tonight.

The result was a repeat of the Southern Tigers squad’s achievement in the 2022 edition of the ACLE competition.

JDT, playing on home turf, had initially found the net against the visiting Buriram United side in the 47th minute but Bergson Da Silva's goal was cancelled out after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check found him in an offside position.

Continuing in the second half, the dramatic and thrilling match continued as Buriram United seemed to get an injection of energy by creating some dangerous moves in the opponent's area. 

After several attempts, Buriram United managed to get the opening goal through striker Suphanat Mueanta's curling strike in the 58th minute, thus making it 1-0 for the visitors.

The hosts once again got the final chance to equalise when JDT striker Jorge Lorenzo Rojas managed to complete Arif Aiman's pass in the 97th minute but VAR once again cancelled out the goal for offside.

The result remained 0-1 until the final whistle in the match which took place in front of over 35,000 spectators.

The quarter-finals of the ACLE will take place in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4. The champion of the tournament will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup Championship and the FIFA Club World Cup as well as automatically qualify for next year's edition of the ACLE.

-- BERNAMA