Thai League 1 duo BG Pathum United and Buriram United will face each other in the semi-final second leg of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ on Wednesday, with a place in the final against Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nôi FC at stake.
Công An overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to overcome Indonesia’s PSM Makassar 2-0 in the second leg in Hanoi to reach the final and BG Pathum will hope to produce a similar comeback in the return leg, having suffered a 3-1 defeat by Buriram in the first leg held last month.
With both clubs one step away from the title showdown of the Shopee Cup, join ASEAN United FC as we take a look at four players who could prove to be influential in the second leg of the last-four tie.
Raniel Santana - BG Pathum United
Raniel Santana is BG Pathum United’s main attacking threat and with the Rabbits in urgent need of goals to come back from a two-goal defeat and force their way into the final, the Brazilian forward’s influence in the final third could make all the difference for the home side in Pathum Thani.
Raniel was BG Pathum’s top scorer with 11 goals during the 2024-25 Thai League 1 campaign while the 28-year-old has also bagged four goals in the Shopee Cup. He opened his account against Cambodia’s PKR Svay Rieng FC and also netted in the 4-1 win against Shan United FC. But his biggest contribution came against Malaysia’s Terengganu FC with a double in a thrilling 4-3 win that sealed their top spot in Group A and a place in the semi-finals.
Supachai Chaided - Buriram United
Buriram United will be counting on Supachai Chaided to maintain his powerful impact in the second leg after he delivered a goal and an assist to see off BG Pathum 3-1 in the first leg in front of their own supporters. The Thailand international, who wore the captain’s armband in the first leg, will now look to finish the job and help his side secure a place in the final.
Supachai has won every title available in Thailand since joining Buriram in 2017, including Thai League1, FA Cup and League Cup titles. But with a brand new trophy on offer in the Shopee Cup, the 26-year-old will be eager to add another honour to his already decorated career and underline his reputation as one of the country’s leading centre forwards.
Chanathip Songkrasin - BG Pathum United
If BG Pathum are to mount a historic comeback in the second leg, they will need a huge spark and there are few better players suited to deliver such a performance than Thailand ace Chanathip Songkrasin. Built for big moments, Chanathip brings experience, creativity and composure in high-pressure situations for both club and country.
Chanathip’s only silverware at BG Pathum, whom he joined from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale in 2023, was the Thai League Cup last year and he will be keen to add more to his trophy-laden career. The 31-year-old has only registered two assists in the Shopee Cup but the BG Pathum captain will be hoping to be at his best in the second leg. If there is to be a comeback in Pathum Thani, Chanathip will likely be at the centre of it.
Lucas Crispim - Buriram United
Along with Supachai and Guilherme Bissoli, Lucas Crispim has been the driving force behind Buriram United’s Thai League 1 triumph this season, with the Brazilian attacking midfielder bagging nine goals and seven assists from 26 appearances as the Thunder Castle edged out Bangkok United in one of the most hard-fought title races in Thailand in recent years.
Crispim has also been in excellent form in the Shopee Cup, scoring five goals in only four games, including a spectacular hat-trick against Philippines side Kaya FC-Iloilo in a big 7-0 win, to sit as its joint-top scorer. If the Brazilian clicks into gear in Pathum Thani in the semi-final second leg, hosts BG Pathum will find it extremely difficult to overcome the uphill task at hand.
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