Southeast Asia will be well-represented in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage, with Buriram United and Johor Darul Ta’zim securing their places after avoiding defeat in their final league phase games.
Buriram battled to a 2-2 draw away at tournament dark horses Gwangju FC of South Korea, while JDT produced a stunning 5-2 comeback victory over fellow South Koreans Pohang Steelers to clinch their spots in the top eight of the East Zone’s league phase. With Shandong Taishan’s unexpected withdrawal from the competition, the Thai and Malaysian giants are now set to face each other in a high-stakes round of 16 clash this March.
In South Korea, Buriram looked in control early against a Gwangju side already through to the knockouts, capitalizing on their opponent’s rotated lineup. Guilherme Bissoli opened the scoring in the 13th minute following a well-timed cutback from Suphanat Mueanta, before turning provider in the 35th minute as Martin Boakye doubled the lead with a powerful strike. However, Gwangju found a way back in the second half, reducing the deficit in the 68th minute through Oh Hu-seong, who finished off Jasir Asani’s precise delivery. Six minutes later, Reis’ free-kick deflected into Oh’s path, and his half-volley found the net to complete the comeback.
Meanwhile, at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, JDT delivered a statement performance against three-time Asian champions Pohang. The Malaysian side fell behind in the 27th minute when Lee Ho-jae headed in a cross from Jorge Luiz, marking the first time JDT conceded at home this campaign. However, the home side responded swiftly, with Oscar Arribas capitalizing on a Bergson header to equalize just before halftime. JDT took full control in the second half, with Bergson’s clever finish in the 52nd minute putting them ahead, followed by Arif Aiman’s opportunistic strike four minutes later after intercepting goalkeeper Yoon Pyung-guk’s misplaced pass. Pohang briefly threatened a comeback when Kang Hyeon-je scored in the 80th minute, but stoppage-time goals from former Real Madrid man Jese Rodriguez and Jorge Obregon sealed an emphatic win.
With JDT’s victory and Buriram’s hard-fought draw, both teams have secured their spots in the knockout stage. However, Shandong’s unexpected withdrawal has reshaped the bracket, setting up an all-Southeast Asian clash between Buriram and JDT in March. The withdrawal also had major repercussions for the East Zone standings, as all points earned against Shandong were voided. This decision unexpectedly eliminated Pohang, who had initially qualified for the knockouts, while dramatically altering the rankings—former front-runners Vissel Kobe dropped to fifth, JDT climbed to third, and Shanghai Port advanced despite having fewer points than Pohang before the adjustments.