Ghanaian defender Kingsley Schindler emerged as the match-winner as Buriram United battled past Johor Darul Ta’zim to book a place in the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup final after a chaotic and fiercely contested semi-final second leg on Wednesday night.
Despite falling 2-1 on the night, the Thai giants edged the tie 4-3 on aggregate after surviving a relentless fightback from the Malaysian champions in a dramatic encounter filled with tension, red cards, and late twists.
Holding a two-goal advantage from the first meeting, Buriram arrived in Malaysia seemingly in control of the tie. However, the atmosphere quickly shifted as JDT launched wave after wave of attacks in front of their home supporters.
The breakthrough for the hosts arrived deep into first-half stoppage time when striker Bergson da Silva calmly converted from the penalty spot after Marcos Guilherme was brought down inside the box.
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JDT returned from the interval with even greater urgency and eventually drew level on aggregate in the 62nd minute. Guilherme, who had earlier won the penalty, turned scorer this time by rifling an effort beyond the Buriram goalkeeper to make it 2-0 on the night and 3-3 overall.
With momentum fully on the side of the Malaysian outfit, the contest was pushed into extra time as Buriram struggled to contain the mounting pressure.
But just when the hosts appeared to have seized complete control, Schindler produced the decisive moment of the evening. The Ghana international unleashed a fierce strike in the 98th minute that beat goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi and restored Buriram’s aggregate advantage, silencing the home crowd and swinging the tie back in favour of the visitors.
Schindler runs the show as Buriram United flatten Cebu FC in six-goal rout
The closing stages descended into chaos as Buriram were reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Guilherme Bissoli and Goran Čaušić in a heated finale.
Even with a two-man disadvantage, Buriram held firm under intense late pressure to secure their passage into the final, where they are set to face Selangor FC in the battle for the regional crown.
