Buriram needed only a point away from home to progress and first half goals from Guilherme Bissoli and Martin Boakye put the Thai champions in full control in their final game of the league stage.

A quickfire double from Oh Hu-seong in the second half brought Gwangju right back into it before Buriram steadied the ship to escape with the draw.

The top eight sides in the AFC Champions League Elite east zone advance from the 12-team table.

Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, who were already assured a place in the knockout round, beat Australia’s Central Coast Mariners 2-0 at home.

Japan’s Yokohama F-Marinos and Vissel Kobe had already qualified.

Buriram were keen to join them and they made a flying start against tournament debutants Gwangju.

Brazilian Bissoli opened the scoring in the 13th minute, sweeping home a low cross from Suphanat Mueanta.

Bissoli then turned creator for Buriram’s second in the 35th minute, teeing up Boakye for the Italian to fire home inside the box.

The Thai side looked to have completed the job by halftime but Oh put the issue in doubt when he turned home Park In-hyeok’s cutback in the 68th minute.

Oh then turned the game on its head when he notched the equaliser six minutes later, but Buriram held on to claim the point they needed.

Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim were also looking to clinch their place when they faced South Korea’s Pohang Steelers later in the evening.

China’s Shanghai Shenhua were looking to keep their hopes alive at home to Kobe.