Pathum remain in hunt for last-16 spot
A late goal from Sarach Yooyen gave Thai League 1 champions BG Pathum United three points and a 1-0 victory over Kaya FC in their Group F game of the AFC Champions League at Pathum Thani Stadium yesterday.
The win has kept Pathum United’s hopes of advancing to the knockout last 16 stage alive and they are scheduled to take on defending champions Ulsan Hyundai FC in their last group game on Sunday.
Pathum United started mounting pressure early in the match and had several chances.
After Andres Tunez had sent a header wide, Yodrak Namuangrak saw his shot in the 20th minute blocked by a Kaya defender.
Veteran Thailand striker Teerasil Dangda was next to fire the ball wide and Diogo Luis Santo followed it with a header that flew over the bar in the 30th minute.
Kaya, on their part, mainly concentrated on defending and unleashed occasional counter-attacks which failed to bother Pathum United goalkeeper Chatchai Budprom in the first half.
In the 35th minute, Teerasil’s leftfooted attempt missed the target and during the last five minutes of the opening half, Cardozo sent another header wide.
Pathum United, needing three points to stay in contention, continued to press for a winner in the second half which gave Kaya space to navigate with Daizo Horikoshi testing Chatchai in the 46th minute, before missing with another shot five minutes later.
The Thai champions should have taken the lead in the 57th minute when Sarach’s effort was blocked by a Kaya player and Surachat Sareepim’s strike of the rebound deflected off the left post.
Kaya’s best chance came in the 70th minute when a counter-attack saw substitute Javier Gayoso sending in a curling cross that found a surging Kenshiro Daniels but Chatchai parried the strike.
Despite the pouring rain, Pathum United kept at it and were finally rewarded in the 83rd minute with Sarach firing from the edge of the box.
Kaya will close their campaign against Viettel FC of Vietnam on Sunday when a win for Pathum United against Ulsan Hyundai will surely take them through to the next round.