Pathum Thani: Thailand’s BG Pathum United are through to the semi-finals of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ as Group A winners after edging Malaysia’s Terengganu FC 4-3 in a thrilling contest at the Pathum Thani Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts went behind to an Akhyar Rashid goal in Anthony Hudson’s first game in charge, but Raniel’s quickfire double followed by Gakuto Notsuda and Ilhan Fandi ensured a BG Pathum win despite Terengganu threatening a late comeback through a Safawi Rasid brace in the stoppage time.
BG Pathum finished their group stage campaign with 11 points from five matches and are one point ahead of second-placed PSM Makassar. They will now face runners-up from Group B while Indonesia’s PSM take on Group B winners Vietnam's Công An Hà Nội FC in April's two-leg last-four fixtures.
The hosts thought they had opened the scoring only seven minutes in, when Ikhsan Fandi turned home a cross from Surachat Sareepim but the goal was ruled out for a tight offside.
The Rabbits went close again five minutes later but were denied by the woodwork this time as Surachat slipped in Raniel, whose fierce strike from inside the box hit the upright.
Waris Choolthong then hit the side-netting in the 17th minute as the BG Pathum continued to assert their dominance on the game but a goalkeeping error at the other end almost gave Terengganu the lead against the run of play.
Thai custodian Pisan Dokmaikeaw’s pass from the back was cut out by Ismahil Akinade in the 18th minute but Terengganu’s Nigerian striker failed to hit the mark from outside the box, with the goal gaping.
Ikhsan headed over from inside the box a minute later while at the opposite end, Shahrul Nizam could not get enough purchase on his header, allowing Pisan to make a comfortable save in the 25th minute.
The Thai League 1 side continued to take the attacking initiative and goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim was kept a busy man as he dealt with a number of crosses into his box with Ikhsan heading wide from one of the crosses that beat the Terengganu shot-stopper just before the break. 
Hudson’s side began the second half on the front foot too but failed to create many clear-cut chances with Ikhsan’s shot on the turn that was blocked in front of the goal by Azam Azmi the only chance of note inside the first 20 minutes of the second period.
And they were made to pay for their lack of creativity as Akhyar drew first blood for the Turtles in the 66th minute. The Malaysia international raced into the box down the left wing before shifting the ball onto his right and looping the ball over Pisan from a tight angle to move his side to the top of Group A.
But their stay at the summit only lasted five minutes as substitute Ilhan Fandi played through Raniel, who slotted past Rahadiazli to put BG Pathum back in contention for a place in the semi-finals. 
That proved to be the spark the hosts were looking for as the Brazilian then sent his side to the top of the group standings in the 76th minute when he found the back of the net from close range after Santipharp Channgom’s initial attempt was saved by Rahadiazli.
Only seven minutes later, Notsuda latched onto a slide rule pass from Chanathip inside the box to score BG Pathum’s third before Ilhan struck in the 87th minute, scoring into an open goal after Rahadiazli advanced from his line to stop Nattawut Suksum’s lofted effort.
BG Pathum thought they had put the result beyond doubt, but they afforded Safawi plenty of space and time at the edge of the box and the Malaysian attacker’s shot nestled in the back of the net after taking a deflection off Marco Ballini in the third of five minutes of the second-half stoppage time.
Badrul Afzan Razali’s side still had time to score a third after the referee pointed to the spot for goalkeeper Pisan’s foul on Akhyar with Safawi converting from the spot in the dying seconds of the game.
But the goal proved in vain for the Malaysia Super League side as they crashed out of the competition by finishing fourth with seven points - level on points with third-placed PKR Svay Rieng FC of Cambodia and three behind runners-up PSM.
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