Thai champions Buriram United claimed their first victory in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday, defeating Australian treble winners Central Coast Mariners 2-1 at the Industree Group Stadium in Gosford. Goals from Guilherme Bissoli and Curtis Good secured the win for the Thunder Castles, while a late red card for Mariners goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic in the 57th minute made the Australian side’s task even harder. Although Lucas Mauragis netted a consolation goal in injury time, Buriram had already sealed the result.
Bissoli opened the scoring in the 30th minute, and Good added a second five minutes into the second half. Buriram’s win moves them to four points from two games, following a goalless draw with Vissel Kobe two weeks earlier, while Central Coast Mariners remain without a point.
The match began well for the AFC Cup holders, with Alou Kuol coming close early on, curling his shot wide of Neil Etheridge’s goal. Central Coast controlled the early stages, and Buriram struggled to make an impact until midway through the first half.
Their first real chance came when Lucas Crispim set up Bissoli, whose shot from the edge of the area was saved by Pavlesic. Moments later, Dion Cools volleyed over the bar, but Buriram’s pressure paid off by the 30th minute. A quickly taken free kick allowed Cools to deliver a low cross to Bissoli, who slotted his shot past Pavlesic to give the visitors the lead.
Pavlesic kept Central Coast in the game early in the second half, saving Bissoli’s effort after a swift counterattack, but he could do nothing a minute later when Curtis Good headed in Goran Causic’s cross from close range, doubling Buriram’s advantage.
Pavlesic’s dismissal came after he fouled Bissoli, who was through on goal, leaving Central Coast with 10 men for the remainder of the game. Jack Warshawsky came on as the substitute goalkeeper and held firm, keeping Buriram from adding to their lead. However, Lucas Mauragis managed to score a consolation goal in the dying moments, firing a shot into the top corner five minutes into stoppage time. Despite the late goal, Buriram United held on to secure the three points.