Thailand's Buriram United took a point away at Gamba Osaka in Suita on 28 October in the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 league stage. According to the AFC, Eduardo Mancha put the visitors ahead in the first half before substitute Takashi Usami equalised in the 66th minute. On the same day, Kashima Antlers beat FC Pohang Steelers 3-0 at home to keep their perfect record.
The draw left Gamba unbeaten on seven points, while Buriram, five points behind on two, are still waiting for their first win.
Gamba Osaka 1-1 Buriram United
Gamba dominated, according to the AFC report. In the ninth minute Whelton Felipe blasted over an empty goal after meeting Eli Adam's cross, with Buriram goalkeeper Neil Etheridge drawn towards Yusei Toshida. In the 16th minute Etheridge spilled a 25-yard strike from Juanpe but recovered to tip Toshida's close-range follow-up over with one hand.
Ryotaro Meshino fired over from the centre of the box in the 26th minute, and from the 36th minute Toshida and Felipe missed a string of chances. Against the run of play, Buriram scored with their first shot on target in the 39th minute: Mancha slipped the ball in from close range after home goalkeeper Jun Ichimuri collided with Buriram captain Ken Dougall, and the goal stood after a VAR review.
Guilherme Bissoli had the ball in the net again for Buriram in the 49th minute, but it was ruled out for handball after another VAR check. Gamba made three changes and Usami rescued them in the 66th minute, his free-kick from the left floating into the area and being pushed into the net by Etheridge as he tried to tip it over. In the 81st minute Felipe hit the left post from inside the six-yard box and Etheridge parried a fine effort from Rin Mito.
Kashima Antlers 3-0 FC Pohang Steelers
The Korean side set up to frustrate their hosts and the first half produced few clear chances. Kashima coach Toru Oniki brought on Yuma Suzuki at the start of the second half, and Pohang almost went ahead in the 59th minute when Jakob Tranziska headed narrowly wide of Tomoki Hayakawa's left post.
In the 69th minute Ryuta Koike broke the deadlock, steering Matheus Bueno's cross past an advancing Hwang In-jae with his chest. Six minutes later Suzuki laid Hayakawa's clearance into the path of Haruki Hayase, who set up Aleksandar Cavric to score at the second attempt after hitting the post. Bueno added the third in the 88th minute, poking home from close range at a corner.
Points after three rounds
| Team | Points after 3 games | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kashima Antlers | 9 | Perfect record |
| Vissel Kobe | 9 | Perfect record |
| Gamba Osaka | 7 | Unbeaten |
| Buriram United | 2 | Still without a win |
| FC Pohang Steelers | 0 | No points yet |
Figures from the AFC match reports. Park Tae-ha's Pohang sit in the lower reaches of the 16-team standings.
The Southeast Asian angle
For Southeast Asian football, a point away to an unbeaten Japanese side is a respectable result for Buriram. The Thai club led from the 39th to the 66th minute and were pegged back only when their own goalkeeper, Etheridge, pushed Usami's free-kick into the net. With two points from three games, however, they still need a first win.
Matchday three was also memorable for other clubs from the region. According to the AFC, on 27 October Vietnam's Cong An Ha Noi beat Shanghai Port 3-2 in China for their first win of the campaign, and Thailand's Ratchaburi drew 0-0 with Kashiwa Reysol to get their first point. In the same round, Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim beat Port FC 3-0, leaving the Thai club pointless after three games.
What comes next
In the next round, according to the AFC, Johor Darul Ta'zim face Korea Republic's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors while Port FC host Beijing FC. For Buriram, the priority is a first win to close the gap on the Japanese clubs at the top, Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe and Gamba Osaka.