Công An Hà Nội FC head coach Mano Pölking was left to regret his side’s struggles in front of goal after a late Guilherme Bissoli penalty earned Buriram United FC a 1-1 draw with the Vietnamese side in Group A of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ on Wednesday.
Bissoli’s 91st minute spot kick secured a point for a Buriram United side that had played most of the second half with 10 men following Robert Žulj’s sending off, as the Thai League 1 side fought back to draw after going behind to Léo Artur’s 10th minute opener.
The Brazilian’s equaliser came as Công An Hà Nội missed several opportunities to add to their lead and potentially avenge their loss to Buriram United in last season’s inaugural Shopee Cup™ final.
“We should have killed the game earlier,” said Pölking. “We had three big one-on-one chances in the first half. If we score those, there is no discussion.
“Still, one point in Buriram — if you had offered me that before the match, I would have taken it. The group is very close, and if we win our last two games, we can still qualify. That is what we will fight for.”
The result moves Công An Hà Nội onto four points from the opening three matches to sit two points behind Group A leaders Tampines Rovers with Selangor occupying second place on five points. BG Pathum United are third with four points ahead of Công An Hà Nội, while Buriram United are a further point adrift in fifth with two games remaining.
The draw was Buriram United’s third in a row in the competition after previously sharing the points with Selangor FC and BG Pathum United FC and the champions will next face Tampines Rovers in Singapore in January.
“Yeah, mixed emotions,” said Buriram head coach Mark Jackson. “I thought we didn’t start the game very well and we allowed our opponents to gain an advantage.
“There were moments in the first half where we created chances and we looked more like ourselves. Certainly from the halfway point onwards, I thought we were ourselves again and we created two big chances in the second half.
“Even when we went down to 10 men, I thought the fight, desire and courage from the team was outstanding.”
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