Pathum Thani: Teerasil Dangda scored the decisive goal as Thailand’s
BG Pathum United picked up their first win in the ASEAN Club Championship
Shopee Cup™ following a 2-1 victory over Cambodia’s PKR Svay Rieng FC in Group
A on Wednesday.
Raniel Santana opened the scoring for BG Pathum in the 31st
minute at Pathum Thani Stadium before Pablo drew Svay Rieng level shortly after
the hour.
But BG Pathum went back in front just moments later as Teerasil proved the hero, sending Chanathip Songkrasin's centre from the left into the back of the net to secure all three points.
After playing out a scoreless draw with Borneo FC Samarinda
on Matchday One, BG Pathum started brightly but suffered an early blow when left-back
Sanchai Nontasila was stretchered off injured inside five minutes before Svay
Rieng’s Nick Taylor forced home goalkeeper Saranon Anuin to parry wide with a
low drive soon after.
The hosts were controlling the majority of possession although struggling to create openings as substitute Warinthon Jamnongwat saw an effort from distance deflected wide midway through the half.
But BG Pathum then took the lead on the half hour when Shinnaphat Leeaoh’s defence-splitting pass from inside his own half found Raniel, whose first touch with his chest took him into the penalty area before he coolly finished past goalkeeper Vireak Dara with his second.
Svay Rieng were proving a threat on the break and the ball
broke kindly for Christian Roque on the edge of the area five minutes later,
only for his fizzing effort to fly straight into the welcoming arms of Saranon.
Chanathip then missed a gilt-edged chance to
double his side’s advantage when the unmarked playmaker side-footed well wide
from 10 yards after being picked out by Raniel.
The visitors came out full of intent after the restart and Christian
created space for himself inside the left side of the penalty area before
seeing his low effort deflected narrowly wide in the 50th minute. From the
ensuing corner, captain Soeuy Visal’s header forced Saranon to parry out.
Taylor then dragged an attempt from the right side of the area wide as the Cambodian champions cranked up the pressure before Raniel called Dara into action down the other end as an end-to-end game ensued.
Svay Rieng’s equaliser arrived in the 61st minute thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from Pablo, who collected a throw-in from the right, slipped the ball past Shinnaphat before producing a lovely low finish into the bottom right corner.
But no sooner had Svay Rieng levelled than BG Pathum went
back in front, and they did so through a combination of their legendary Thai
duo as Chanathip found Teerasil whose predatory finish from eight yards out restored
the hosts’ advantage.
The three points were by no means safe, however, as Gabriel Silva had a sight on goal with seven minutes remaining, the Brazilian prodding just wide from a narrow angle under pressure from defender Chanapach Buaphan and goalkeeper Saranon.
BG Pathum held on, though, as they moved onto four points from two games, leapfrogging their opponents in the process as the Cambodians failed to build on their opening-day win over Malaysia's Terengganu FC.
The Thai side will next host Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC of Vietnam on Matchday Three on January 8, while Svay Rieng will take on Indonesia's PSM Makassar in Phnom Penh.
Share now
