Bangkok: First-half goals from Datsakorn Thonglao and Siaka Dagno saw Muangthong United overcome a first-leg deficit against Al Karamah and reach the semi-finals of the AFC Cup.
Trailing 1-0 from last week's game in Syria, the hosts erased the deficit in a 10-minute spell during the opening period at Thunderdome Stadium as Datsakorn gave the hosts the lead with an exquisite volley before Dagno netted the crucial second from the spot to dump last season's runners-up out of the competition.
Clever work on the wings from Dagno and Christian Kouakou (pictured) caused the visitors constant problems while Mohamed Kone proved a handful for the Al Karamah backline and the striker forced keeper Mosab Balhous to palm a header over the bar after just three minutes.
Al Karamah defended in numbers but the breakthrough finally came in the 32nd minute when Richard Etiege brought down Kone just outside the area.
Balhous could only parry the resulting free kick as far as Teerasil Dangda and his cross found Datsakorn on the edge of the area, who smashed a spectacular volley into the back of the net.
The game slowed as Muangthong allowed the visitors plenty of possession but kept them pegged back in midfield and Al Karamah did not register an attempt on target until centre-half Fabio Santos Da Silva headed into keeper Kawin Thamsatchanan's hands from their first corner of the game in the 40th minute.
However, Muangthong extended their lead two minutes later when Kouakou beat two players on the edge of the box with sublime skill before his threatening run was halted by a clumsy challenge from Etiege.
Referee Choi Myung-yong pointed to the spot and Dagno stepped up to beat the Al Karamah keeper with a powerful strike and give the Thais the upper hand in the tie.
The second-half began with the Syrians pushing on in the knowledge that one goal would see them through as the hosts were restricted to playing on the counter attack in a bid to kill the game off with a third goal.
The Cote d’Ivoire duo of Kone and Dagno dropped deeper and while the aerial presence of Fabio appeared to unsettle the Muanghtong defence, Al Karamah were unable to fashion any clear-cut chances much to the increasing frustration of the visiting bench as their bid came to an end at the quarter-final stage.
Photo: Thai League News
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