SINGAPORE (11 January 2025) – Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội FC and PSM Makassar of Indonesia pulled clear in the race for the semi-final places of the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ as the group phase returned after a three-month hiatus.
Le Van Do and a Marco Casambre own goal earned Công An Hà Nội a 2-1 win over the Philippines’ Kaya FC-Iloilo at Manila’s Rizal Memorial Stadium to sit three points ahead of nearest challengers Buriram United FC in Group B.
The reigning Thai League One champions climbed up to second after a comfortable 4-0 win against Borneo FC with Lucas Crispim, Guilherme Bissoli, Marcelo Djalo and Rattanakorn Maikami all on target for Osmar Loss’ side.
Kuala Lumpur City FC, meanwhile, slipped to third following their 2-0 loss to Lion City Sailors FC, the Singaporeans winning for the first time in the competition thanks to goals from Bailey Wright and Maxime Lestienne at Jalan Besar Stadium.
“We’ve got good momentum at the minute as a club, in the league, in the AFC Champions League Two and now this in the Shopee Cup™,” said Wright, whose team moved off the bottom of the table.
“We’ve been disappointed with our two previous performances and results, but as a group and as a club we know what we’re capable of as a team and we fully believe we can win against anyone in any competition.”
Meanwhile, PSM Makassar opened up a two-point lead in Group A with a 1-0 win over Cambodia’s Svay Rieng FC in Phnom Penh, with Nermin Heljeta scoring barely 40 seconds after the opening whistle to move the Indonesians onto seven points from three games.
That gives PSM a cushion over second-placed Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC, who were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts BG Pathum United FC as Sanchai Nontasila earned the home side a point when he struck with three minutes left to cancel out Doan Ngoc Tan’s 71st minute opener.
Terengganu FC were the biggest winners of the round, the Malaysians handing Myanmar’s Shan United FC a 5-0 thrashing in Yangon to move onto four points and remain in fourth place.
The home side, who have yet to pick up a point, had both Zwe Htet Min and Zwe Khant Min sent off while Manny Ott and Akhyar Rashid scored a brace apiece after Safawi Rasid had the visitors ahead with an 11th minute penalty.
“I’m very proud of the team,” said Ott. “It’s the first three points of the group stage and the result speaks for itself. We’re happy, finally, to pick up a win and make the group interesting.”
The fourth round of matches in the Shopee Cup™ will be played on January 22 and 23.
In Group A, Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC will host Svay Rieng FC as BG Pathum United FC take on Shan United and Terengganu entertain PSM Makassar. A day later Lion City Sailors meet Buriram United, Borneo FC play Kaya FC-Iloilo and Kuala Lumpur City face Công An Hà Nội in Group B.
The Shopee Stars of Matchday Three are:
Shan United FC (MYA) vs Terengganu FC (MAS) – Manuel Gelito Ott (#8) / Terenganu FC
BG Pathum United (THA) vs Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC (VIE) – Doan Ngoc Tan (C)(#34) / Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC
PKR Svay Rieng FC (CAM) vs PSM Makassar (IDN) – Nermin Haljeta (#99) / PSM Makassar
Kaya FC – Iloilo (PHI) vs Công An Hà Nội FC (VIE) – Lê Văn Đô (#88) / Công An Hà Nội FC
Lion City Sailors FC (SGP) vs Kuala Lumpur City FC (MAS) – Maxime Lestienne (#17) / Lion City Sailors FC
Buriram United (THA) vs Borneo FC Samarinda (IDN) – Guilherme Bissoli (#7) / Buriram United FC
For more information about the Shopee Cup™, please visit https://aseanutdfc.com/ and @aseanutdfc on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and X.
