Depleted Buriram face Seoul challenge
Published: 30 Apr 2013 at 01.56
Buriram United will be without several key players when they face South Korea's FC Seoul in the AFC Champions League tomorrow.
It looms as one of the most important matches in Buriram's history but their final Group E game may come at the wrong time for the Thunder Castle, who are hoping to make a first appearance in the last 16 of the regional competition.
FC Seoul have already qualified for the knockout stage with 10 points, leaving Buriram (six), Japan's Vegalta Sendai (six) and China's Jiangsu Sainty (four) vying for the other spot.
Sendai host Jiangsu in the other Group E match tomorrow.
Thai FA Cup champions Buriram arrived in Seoul yesterday with only 15 players.
"It is a very difficult situation for us," Buriram coach Attapol Bussapakom said.
Their injured players include Charyl Chappuis and Suree Sukha, while Osmar Ibanez, Anawin Jujeen and Anthony Ampaipitakwong are suspended.
Buriram's fate may be decided by a count of yellow and red cards, or even a specially convened lottery.
With Buriram and Sendai tied on points, head-to-head record, goal difference and goals scored, if both teams win or draw they may be relying on their disciplinary record to determined with team clinches the group's second berth in the next round.
Should Japan's Sendai, on seven yellow cards compared to Buriram's 15 yellows and one red, suffer a meltdown against Jiangsu, qualification could be decided by a lottery.
Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob have promised to give the team 1.5 million baht for a win and 500,000 baht for a draw with an additional 300,000 baht for each goal they score.
From: Bangkok Post
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