Today’s score: "Ratchaburi" lost narrowly to "Gamba" after extra time, ending their ACL2 quarterfinal journey.
On 11 March 2026 GMT+7, the AFC Champions League 2 2025-26 season quarterfinal second leg took place. Ratchaburi FC, third in Thai League 1, hosted Gamba Osaka, fourth in Japan’s J1 League, at Ratchaburi Stadium.
Before kickoff, "The Dragon Kings" Ratchaburi FC were aiming to make history by reaching the Asian club competition semifinals for the first time after drawing 1-1 away at Gamba Osaka in Japan the previous week.
In the 8th minute of the first half, Ratchaburi FC almost conceded from a left-side corner by Gamba Osaka. Riku Honda flicked the ball toward the goal, allowing Denis Humet to charge in unmarked, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.
However, in the 29th minute, Gamba Osaka took the lead 1-0 when Genta Miura struck a powerful long-range shot from the right edge of the penalty area, beautifully and decisively curling the ball into the far post. Goalkeeper Kampol Pathomakkul dived but could not stop it. The first half ended with this score.
Early in the second half, in the 50th minute, "The Dragon Kings" launched an attack and successfully equalized 1-1. Daniel Ting crossed the ball into the box, where Gamba Osaka’s goalkeeper and defenders collided trying to clear it. The ball dropped to Gleison, who volleyed it into the empty net.
In the 66th minute, Ratchaburi earned a penalty after Daniel Ting was elbowed while attempting a header. However, Denilson Junior missed the spot-kick, shooting down the middle. Masaaki Higashiguchi dived to his right, but the ball hit Ratchaburi players and the lead was not secured.
After 90 minutes, the match was tied 1-1, with an aggregate score of 2-2 over two legs. This forced Ratchaburi FC and Gamba Osaka into an additional 30 minutes of extra time to decide who would advance to the semifinals.
In the 99th minute of extra time, Gamba Osaka broke through Ratchaburi’s defense. Welton dribbled into the penalty area and shot from the left side, sending the ball past Kampol Pathomakkul into the far post, making it 2-1.
In the 109th minute, "The Dragon Kings" nearly equalized again. Issam Jebali of Gamba Osaka headed the ball into the path of Negba, who volleyed toward the far post, but the ball narrowly missed, going just outside the post.
At the end of extra time, Ratchaburi FC lost 1-2, with an aggregate of 2-3. "The Dragon Kings" concluded their historic run in the Asian club championship, while Gamba Osaka advanced to the semifinals.