Pathum Thani: Thailand's Buriram United will face Công An Hà Nội FC of Vietnam in the final of the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ after a 0-0 draw against BG Pathum United on Wednesday secured a 3-1 aggregate win.
Having given themselves a two-goal advantage following the first leg in Buriram in early April, it was the visitors who had the better of the first-half chances against their domestic rivals at Pathum Thani Stadium but the game remained goalless at the interval.
BG Pathum upped their performance after the restart, but the Buriram backline remained firm as Osmar Loss’ team sealed their passage to the final without too many problems.
BG Pathum began the game with a two-goal deficit to recover, but would have been buoyed by a 2-1 win over Buriram in the league just a week after the first-leg loss. However, it was the visitors who created the first openings of note.
Rene Renner teed up Guilherme Bissoli on the edge of the area 12 minutes in, but the Brazilian was unable to make a clean connection and sliced well wide of the target.
The recently crowned Thai League 1 champions came much closer five minutes later, Peter Zuji’s left-footed strike from distance forcing goalkeeper Saranon Anuin to get down low and push wide for a corner.
Buriram were asking all the questions and had another sight on goal as the half hour approached as Zuji again tested Saranon, but this time his right-footed strike from just outside the area was comfortably claimed by the goalkeeper.
Having barely called Buriram ‘keeper Chatchai Bootprom into action, the hosts needed a spark after the interval, but the iconic Chanathip Songkrasin remained on the bench while Chananan Pombubpha replaced the ineffective Ikhsan Fandi up front.
And Supachai Komslip’s side had an early attempt on goal when Freddy Alvarez sent a left-footed shot from the right side of the area directly at Chatchai after being teed up by his captain Kritsada Kaman.
Buriram were next to try their luck in the 50th minute when Marcelo Djalo slipped in Bissoli in the right channel but the outstretched Christian Gomis made a superb last-ditch block to send the forward's effort out for a corner.
As the hour approached, BG Pathum had the best chance of the game when Alvarez’s inch-perfect ball over the top found the onrushing Chananan whose first-time strike was expertly kept out by Chatchai low to his right.
With the game goalless and 30 minutes to play it was time for Chanathip to make his introduction but it was Buriram who had the next chance when Zuji’s glancing header from Lucas Crispim’s inswinging free-kick went narrowly wide of the left post.
As the clock ticked into the final few minutes, Airfan Doloh tried his luck from fully 35 yards although Chatchai comfortably parried to safety as Buriram’s resistance remained firm.
BG Pathum continued to apply the pressure in the closing moments but it was ultimately not enough as Buriram sealed a date with a Công An side they lost 2-1 to in their opening game last August.
The first leg of the Shopee Cup final will take place in Hanoi on 14 May before the champions will be crowned following the return leg in Buriram on 21 May.
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