Selangor FC Shows Maturity in ASEAN Club Championship Final Despite Loss

Selangor FC concluded their ASEAN Club Championship campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Buriram United in the second leg of the final, resulting in a 3-1 aggregate loss. The Malaysian club fell short of securing their first regional title in the final held at Arena Chang.

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We want the players to show their game identity because they represent the Selangor fans, and I am proud they managed to maintain that character even when facing a very strong team.

Despite the outcome, Selangor's head coach, Kim Pan-gon, expressed pride in his team's performance. He highlighted the players' courage and their ability to impose their style of play even when facing the defending champions in front of a large home crowd. "Playing away is not easy, but the players showed confidence and high fighting spirit throughout the game," Pan-gon stated.

Selangor adopted a more aggressive approach from the start, seeking an aggregate equalizer after a 1-0 loss in the first leg. They created early chances, but Buriram's goalkeeper, Neil Etheridge, made crucial saves. Selangor eventually found the net in the 18th minute through Syahir Bashah, leveling the aggregate score at 1-1 and reviving their hopes.

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Playing away is not easy, but the players showed confidence and high fighting spirit throughout the game.

However, Buriram's experience proved decisive. Suphanat Mueanta and Theerathon Bunmathan scored two key goals, securing the trophy for the Thai club. Pan-gon viewed the final as a positive indicator of Selangor's developing tactical maturity and game discipline when competing against top Southeast Asian clubs. "We tried to improve some things tactically, and I think the players managed to execute them well, and our defensive pattern was also more organized than before," he added.

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We tried to improve some things tactically, and I think the players managed to execute them well, and our defensive pattern was also more organized than before.