Chengdu Rongcheng 0-1 Buriram United Highlights, AFC Champions League Elite: Bissoli Clinches Victory For Thunder Castle

Good afternoon and welcome, one and all. We will bring to you the build-up and live updates from the AFC Champions League Elite, group A clash between Chengdu Rongcheng and Buriram United. Watch this space!

The match kicks off at 5:45pm IST. The Chengdu Rongcheng vs Buriram United, AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 group A match will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

It will be shown on iQiyi in China and on BG Sports in Thailand.

It will be the first-ever meeting between Chengdu Rongcheng and Buriram United. Thai League 1 holders Buriram, however, have won two of their previous three matches against Chinese opponents after failing to win in the last six such matches.

In Shanghai, hosts Shanghai Shenhua FC take on Machida Zelvia in a simultaneous group A game of the AFC Champions League Elite. Languishing in 11th place in the group standings, the Blue Devils cannot afford anything less than victory, if they are to keep their hopes of round of 16 qualification alive. As for the Japanese club, a win would seal their knockout berth.

In the preceding Group A fixtures, Vissel Kobe have sealed a comfortable 2-0 win over FC Seoul at the Misaki Park Stadium that keeps them top of the group. And in Hiroshima, Sanfrecce Hiroshima ride Akito Suzuki's brace to down 10-man Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-1 in a comeback win.

The match is underway at Phoenix Hill Sports Park Football Stadium. Chengdu kicking from left to right and Buriram in the opposite direction in the first half. The Thai League 1 holders are put under some early pressure by the hosts, though nothing has come out of it yet.

Having weathered the early storm from Chengdu, Buriram start to make attacking forays of their own to make things interesting. Kingsley Schindler unleashes a superb shot that hits the upright in the 29th minute!

Goal disallowed! Buriram would consider themselves really unlucky here. Bissoli hit the post for them this time, and Suphanat Mueanta was around to slam the rebound into the back of the net. But a VAR check ensued and after a lengthy delay, Mueanta was ruled to be marginally offside.

The VAR drama late in the first half meant that seven minutes were added to it as stoppage time. The opening period ends goalless, with Buriram doing well to turn the tide after Chengdu's early offensive dominance, though they have nothing to show for it.

The players are back from the mid-game interval and the second half kicks off. Chengdu now attacking from right to left and Buriram the other way. A draw would knock the hosts out of round of 16 contention, so they would be more eager to find the opener.

Buriram United break the deadlock in the 50th minute! This time VAR has no problem, as Bissoli makes the most of Kingsley Schindler's ball following a corner. He slams it into the roof of the net from his left foot, and Thunder Castle finally take the lead after threatening to, repeatedly in the first half.

Time for some substitutions. Wang Ziming replaces Romulo and Mutellip Iminqari comes in for Liao Lisheng in the 65th minute. Buriram United, meanwhile bring in Ruben Sanchez for Sandy Walsh.

In the concurrent game, Machida Zelvia ease to a dominant 2-0 win and the round of 16. It's curtains for Shanghai Shenhua, meanwhile, as they crash out of knockouts contention with one group game still to go.

And there comes the final whistle in Chengdu too. Buriram complete a momentous 1-0 win to take a strong step towards round of 16 qualification. As for the home team, the dream is almost dashed with one group game to go and them lying 10th.