Selangor FC Confirm Slot In ASEAN Club Semi-finals
PETALING JAYA, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- Selangor FC advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025/2026 ASEAN Club Championship despite being tied 1-1 with Thailand's BG Pathum United in the final match of Group A at Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium (MBPJ) here, tonight.
The one point earned allowed the Red Giants to finish the group in second place after sharing nine points with another Thai representative and defending champions, Buriram United, who topped the group on goal difference.
The match started at a high tempo before Selangor suffered a setback when they had to play with 10 men from the 26th minute after import midfielder Alvin Fortes was shown a red card for fouling Kritsada Kaman.
Playing with 10 men did not dampen the spirits of the home team when team captain Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim scored the opening goal in the 36th minute with a powerful shot from inside the penalty box after deceiving two opposing defenders.
However, BG Pathum United managed to equalise after Waris Choolthong's cross from the right was pushed into his own goal by Selangor defender Richmond Ankrah in the 64th minute.
Selangor, led by former national team head coach Kim Pan Gon, almost conceded another goal in the 77th minute, but goalkeeper Kalamullah Al-Hafiz Mat Rowi acted brilliantly to deny BG Pathum United striker Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad's powerful header.
The 1-1 score remained until the final whistle, and BG Pathum United were forced to accept elimination from the competition after finishing the group in third place with eight points.
In another Group A match, Buriram United celebrated by thrashing Dynamic Herb Cebu from the Philippines 6-0 at home, thus jumping to the top of the table to advance to the semi-finals as group champions.
In the semi-finals, which will be played on a two-legged basis starting in May, Buriram United will face the Group B runners-up while Selangor will face the Group B champions.
Vietnam's Nam Dinh are currently top of Group B with 12 points ahead of their clash with Super League leaders Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), who are second with 10 points, in the final match in Ninh Binh tomorrow.
-- BERNAMA
