Buriram United's dream of making it to the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League from Group G ended last night following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.
In the other Group G game, China's Beijing Guoan lost 1-0 to South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
With one round of matches to go, Jeonbuk have 12 points, Urawa and Beijing seven each, and Buriram three.
At Chang Arena, Urawa, despite the hot conditions, controlled the game well and looked the better side.
Buriram, beaten 3-0 by Urawa in Japan, needed to avoid a defeat in last night's game to keep alive their hopes but they never looked capable of mounting a serious resistance.
The home crowd was silenced as early as the third minute when Urawa captain Shinzo Koroki beat an offside trap and fired an angular shot into the net from inside the box to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Japanese Cup champions kept piling pressure on the hosts and could have added another goal to their tally but Ryosuke Yamanaka's shot was warded off Buriram goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen.
This was soon followed by a Koroki shot flying over the bar.
The Thunder Castle equalised in the 13th minute following an exchange between Pedro Junior and Naruebodin Weerawatnodom.
Pedro moved the ball up before passing it to Naruebodin on the right. The Thai player, in turn, set up the Brazilian with a low cross as the Thunder Castle briefly rekindled their hopes of a victory.
Urawa responded with an increase in the intensity of their attack and put the Thai league champions under more pressure.
Buriram captain Suchao Nutnum failed to clear the ball just outside the penalty area and Yuki Muto quickly pounced on the opportunity to net the second and match-winning goal for the Japanese club.
Buriram will play their last Group G match at Jeonbuk on May 21.
Meanwhile, hosts Chiangmai and Chainat got a point each after a 2-2 draw in a Thai League 1 encounter last night.
The match was originally scheduled to be played two months ago but was postponed because of haze in the host city.
