CAHN 2-2 Buriram United, Southeast Asia C1 final: Promising exciting second leg

CAHN Club is cautious but determined

Right in the first time entering the international arena, CAHN Club created a miracle for Vietnamese football. Coach Alexandre Polking and his team won all 5 group stage matches, defeated the strongest teams of Thailand (Buriram United), Singapore (Lion City Sailors) and the Philippines (Kaya FC) to take the lead, then eliminated PSM Makassar (Indonesia) in the semi-finals to enter the championship match. Although CAHN Club is unlikely to win the V-League this season, when entering the international arena, Quang Hai and his teammates did not let the flag and shirt colors fade in front of strong football teams in Southeast Asia.

CAHN Club has a historic opportunity in the Southeast Asian C1 Cup. Quang Hai's hope.

In the group stage, CAHN Club beat Buriram 2-1, but coach Polking said the final match will be very different. That's why he is cautious: "Buriram brings a new squad to Vietnam, with many changes in players. They have just won the Thai championship. The final match and the group stage match will be different. Buriram will be without Suphanat Muenta, but that is not a problem. They have a good squad depth, the Thai players and foreign players are all good. The match is of high quality and hopefully the audience will come to the stadium to cheer for CAHN Club."

CAHN Club (left) will play at home in the first leg of the final.

PHOTO: MINH TU

The Buriram squad is considered a "miniature Thai team" with great players such as Theerathon Bunmathan, Suphanat Muenta, Supachai Jaided, Sasalak Haiprakhon, Phitiwat... Their foreign players are also very good, notably goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and striker Guilherme Bissoli. With overwhelming strength, Buriram won the Thai-League and reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite, only losing to Al Ahli-Saudi - the team that later won the championship. Buriram once lost to CAHN Club, but that was when coach Osmar Loss Vieira sent in a reserve team. For now, the Thai representative will play with all they can, when there is only the Southeast Asian Cup C1 to strive for.

"Buriram is confident because we have played in many arenas and gone very far. Thanks to playing many important matches, the whole team knows how to cope with difficulties. Buriram is used to pressure so there is no pressure. CAHN Club won almost absolutely in the Southeast Asian Cup 1. They also have a well-organized, methodical defense and midfield, pressing fiercely, making it difficult for other teams. However, Buriram's goal is always to win the championship," said Buriram coach Osmar Loss Vieira.

Coach Polking must lock down Theerathon Bunmathan

To defeat Buriram, CAHN Club must lock down the opponent's dangerous explosives, most notably Theerathon.

The 35-year-old defender has been involved in 10 goals (scoring 1, assisting 9) in the Thai-League and AFC Champions League Elite. Despite being on the other side of his career and not physically fit enough to play the entire tournament, Theerathon is still experienced, cunning and extremely sensitive to the ball. The former Vissel Kobe defender plays on the wing, but can move into the middle to play as a midfielder and launch "deadly" through balls.

In 2022, it was Theerathon with his central passes that caused chaos in Vietnam's defense, thanks to which Thailand won with a total score of 3-2 in the final to win the AFF Cup.

The coach of Theerathon that year was Coach Polking. "I am happy to meet Coach Polking again. We have many good memories. I also got to meet the Vietnamese players who are playing for CAHN Club. When I was playing for the Thai national team, I rarely lost to them. But this is a different match, taking place in a different tournament, requiring me and Buriram to make a lot of effort," Theerathon shared.

Mr. Polking probably understands Theerathon's playing style better than the current coach of Buriram. With 2 years leading the Thai national team and 6 years coaching in the Thai-League, Coach Polking clearly understands how to control the ball, pass and create play, as well as the typical pressing of Thai teams. Thanks to that, the German strategist has a reasonable counter-attacking strategy, helping CAHN Club defeat Buriram in the group stage.

Although the final match will be very different when Buriram Club brings a strong force, but with the pre-planned tactical pieces, and the mind that Coach Polking possesses that understands Buriram very well, CAHN Club will have the advantage to make things happen.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truc-tiep-clb-cahn-buriram-united-chung-ket-c1-dong-nam-a-thang-loi-san-nha-185250514153453764.htm