Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos dominated Thai champions Buriram United with a 5-0 win at the Nissan Stadium in Wednesday’s 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite match, lifting themselves to third in the standings as the league phase hits its midway mark.
The match saw goals from Kenta Inoue, Anderson Lopes (twice), an own goal from Neil Etheridge, and a close-range finish by Asahi Uenaka, sealing a comfortable victory for Yokohama after Buriram was reduced to 10 men following Sasalak Haiprakhon’s red card.
Yokohama, underneath the stewardship of Central Coast Mariners legend John Hutchinson, came out firing, with Lopes narrowly missing two early chances that saw former Birmingham City and Cardiff City goalie Etheridge make a key save, and former Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo danger man Lopes sending the rebound just wide. Takumi Kamijima also missed an opportunity before Yokohama capitalized in the 11th minute. Carlos Eduardo’s precise cross-field pass found Inoue, who cut inside and unleashed a right-footed shot that sailed past Etheridge.
The game turned decisively in Yokohama’s favor in the 27th minute when Buriram’s Sasalak was sent off for a reckless foul on Jean Aziangbe, leaving the Thai side one player short. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Buriram attempted to hold on, but Yokohama soon broke through. After a penalty was awarded for a handball by Guilherme Bissoli, Lopes calmly converted past Filipino international custodian Etheridge to double the lead.
Just two minutes later, Hijiri Kato’s shot slipped through Etheridge’s hands, rolling over the line to give Yokohama a three-goal cushion. After halftime, the pressure continued, with Lopes scoring his second of the game in the 57th minute, turning sharply and finishing cleanly. Uenaka rounded off the scoring in the 66th minute, tapping in from close range following a cross by Kota Mizunuma.
The result pushes Yokohama up to seven points, placing them third, while Buriram drops to sixth, struggling to stay in contention for a top-eight spot and a place in the knockout rounds.