Balikpapan: Indonesia’s PSM Makassar and BG Pathum United of
Thailand began their ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup Group A campaign with
a 0-0 draw at Batakan Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts controlled spells of the game but were limited largely to shots from distance while a resolute BG Pathum were unable to threaten going forward as the two sides cancelled each other out.
BG Pathum started with star man Chanathip Songkrasin on the bench but handed a debut to Singaporean forward Ilhan Fandi, who recently returned to
Southeast Asia following a year and a half in Belgium.
PSM had the better of the opening stages and came close in
the 14th minute when Ananda Raehan broke through the middle before side-footing
narrowly wide of the right post from just outside the area.
The visitors had their first chance of note in the 27th minute when, after good build-up play from Freddy Alvarez and Sivakorn Tiatrakul, they worked the ball to Chaowat Veeracharet, but after he evaded his marker superbly with his first touch, he fired high and wide with his second from 20 yards.
Bernardo Taveres’ PSM began the second half brightly bit
Latyr Fall was wasteful with his effort from just outside the area, shooting
well off target after a lovely give-and-go with Nermin Haljeta.
The Indonesian side continued to push forward and Fall had
another chance just before the hour, forcing BG Pathum goalkeeper Pisan
Dokmaikaew into a low save after being teed up by Tito Okello.
With the home side on top, BG Pathum head coach Makoto Teguramori decided to introduce Chanathip soon after as the Thai team sought the inspiration they had been lacking.
But PSM still looked the most likely to break the deadlock
as substitute Ricky Pratama danced his way into the box from the right side and
blasted just wide with 20 minutes to play.
Rizky saw another effort deflected wide with five minutes remaining as, despite their best efforts, PSM were unable to find the all-important
goal and the game ended level.
PSM will next host Myanmar’s Shan United on September 25
while BG Pathum return to Thailand to face PKR Svay Rieng FC of Cambodia on the
same day.
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