AFC Champions League Elite - Buriram’s set-play frailties frustrate Jackson

Jeddah: For the second successive season, Buriram United bid goodbye to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ at the quarter-final stage after their 3-2 defeat to Shabab Al Ahli on Saturday.

Head coach Mark Jackson admitted he was exasperated after watching the Thai side struggle to cope with Shabab’s set-piece proficiency with all three goals conceded from corner kicks.

#ACLElite | Quarter-finals : Buriram United (THA) 2-3 Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

“Extremely disappointing,” said Jackson. “We were under pressure after going 2-0 down but the players showed character and desire to come back. It’s fine margins but I’m very proud of the players and the manner in which they fought back in the game.

“We grew into the game, particularly after going 2-0 down, the desire was excellent. We stuck to the plan and we felt the opponents were tiring and the match was within our grasp. So to concede so early in extra-time was disappointing.”

An own goal from Peter Zulj and a Saied Ezatolahi strike looked to have given Buriram a mountain to climb but Jackson was able to get his players to respond as two goals in the space of six minutes through Guilherme Bissoli and Zulj set up a tantalising finish.

However, Buriram’s woes in defending corners hit them again three minutes into extra time with Renan Victor’s winner causing Jackson to rue the lapses in concentration as Buriram exited the competition.

“That’s not us particularly in this competition, tonight we were second best in that area. If you had said before the game that we were going to lose the game through three set-piece goals, it would have been surprising because that is an area we have done well in this season.

“Everything our opponents brought today, we planned for. Even the setplays. It comes down to concentration, keeping focus in those moments.

“That’s where we fell short because we set up the team expecting those. It’s about the collective and us defending as a team and ultimately that cost us.”

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