With qualification to the next phase already in the bag, a much-changed Gwangju saw the likes of Kang Hui-su and Kwon Sung-yun being given starts, a situation which Buriram took full advantage of early on.

Suphanat Mueanta was played into space on the right in the 13th minute and the Thailand international’s cutback was perfect for Guilherme Bissoli to sweep home from the centre of the penalty box to put Buriram ahead.

Further opportunities fell the way of Bissoli as his link-up play with Martin Boakye and Suphanat came to the fore, the Brazilian forward firing wide with one effort before heading another straight into the arms of Kim Kyeong-min.

Gwangju’s woes continued with a forced substitution in the 24th minute when an injured Hwang Jae-hwan was taken off and replaced by Park In-hyeok, although the substitute immediately swung into action with a shot slammed wide after good work from Jasir Asani.

But it was Buriram who struck again in the 35th minute, Bissoli feeding Boakye to net with a powerful first-time finish to Kyeong-min’s near post as Osmar Loss’ side went into the break comfortably ahead. 

Despite the introduction of Reis and Lee Min-kin after the interval, Gwangju showed little signs of being able to break down a resolute Buriram defence with goalkeeper Neil Etheridge not having much to deal with.

That changed in the 68th minute when Gwangju finally produced a moment of quality with Asani picking out In-hyeok's run into the box with his cutback finished off by Oh Hu-seong to raise hopes of a comeback for the home side.

Buoyed by the goal, Gwangju looked to strike again and did so six minutes later when a Reis free-kick was only cleared into the path of Oh, whose half volley took a deflection that wrong-footed Etheridge to land in back of the net for a share of the points.