Buriram: Lucas Crispim bagged a hat-trick as Thailand’s Buriram United opened their account in the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ with a commanding 7-0 win against Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines in Group B on Thursday.
Crispim opened the scoring for the Thai League 1 champions with only nine minutes on the clock before Supachai Jaided netted with an unmarked header in the 15th minute as the hosts went into the interval with a 2-0 lead at the Buriram Stadium.
The 30-year-old Brazilian then completed his treble with two headed goals in the space of three minutes early in the second period before substitutes Athit Berg, Seksan Ratree and Chrigor scored to seal the 7-0 win as Buriram bounced back from a defeat to Công An Hà Nôi FC in the opener in style.
Buriram, managed by Osmar Loss, were on the front foot from the kick-off and found the breakthrough in the ninth minute when Crispim’s almost-scuffed shot from outside the box following a short corner glanced off the head of Kaya defender Simone Rota and ended up in the back of the net.
The Thais did not have to wait long to double their lead, as six minutes later, captain Theerathon Bunmathan’s pinpoint free-kick was headed home by an unmarked Supachai to make it 2-0 and send the home fans into a frenzy.
Buriram striker Guilherme Bissoli went close with a header in the 20th minute and then with a shot from the box five minutes later, but the Kaya backline stood strong to avoid further damage before the half-time break.
The visitors, meanwhile, hardly threatened in the first period with Robert Lopez Mendy’s long-range effort that sailed well wide of Siwarak Tedsungnoen’s goal in the 33rd minute the closest Yu Hoshide's side came to scoring in 45 minutes.
Within five minutes of second half, Crispim increased the Thunder Castle's lead further heading home a Sasalak Haiprakhon cross before the duo combined again three minutes later as another header from Sasalak's cross helped the attacking midfielder claim the match ball.
Kaya winger Shuto Komaki had a gilt-edged chance fall his way just past the hour mark only to see his shot from close range saved by Siwarak before Patrick Deyto produced a great stop at the other end to deny Bissoli in the 65th minute.
Berg came off the bench to turn in a cross from Seksan in the 77th minute for his first-ever Buriram goal before the roles were reversed in the 84th minute when Berg turned provider for Seksan as Buriram made it 6-0.
But there was still time for the home side to find a seventh after Kaya custodian Deyto conceded a penalty for a foul on Berg before Chrigor slotted the spot kick home to close out his side's huge victory.
Buoyed by their first Shopee Cup win, Buriram will next host Indonesia’s Borneo FC Samarinda in the tournament on January 9, 2025 while Kaya, without a point after two matches, welcome Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nôi FC to Manila on Matchday Three.
Share now
