Southeast Asia Thailand

Buriram Safely Through to League Cup Semis with Thrashing of Angels

Defending Thai League Cup champions Buriram United are safely through to this year’s semifinal after dispatching True Bangkok United 3-0 at the Thammasat Stadium in Wednesday’s quarterfinal action.

Taking on the Bangkok Angels in arguably the tie of the round, Buriram went 1-0 up in the half-hour mark after Suphanat Mueanta latched onto a Theerathon Bunmathan free-kick before knocking down a powerful header into Michael Falkesgaard’s goal.

The Thunder Castles then doubled their lead over their hosts in the 50th minute, with former Newcastle United player Haris Vuckic blasting home a header past Falkesgaard after receiving a perfect cross from Jonathan Bolingi.

Buriram’s ticket to the semifinal was assured in the 77th minute after Goran Causic had outsmarted a Bangkok United defender before blasting a cannonball that went beyond Falkesgaard’s reaches.

The 3-0 win meant that not only Buriram had sealed themselves a spot in this season’s Thai League Cup final four, it also extended the Thunder Castles’ unbeaten record to 26 matches in all competitions – the longest ongoing unbeaten record in club football.

Wednesday’s other quarterfinal results bore no shocks whatsoever. Giant-killers Samut Songkhram FC saw their superb run ending in the final eight after the Thai League 3 side went down 2-1 away at top-flight Ratchaburi FC, while BG Pathum United saw off the challenge of former feeder club Chiangmai FC at the Chiangmai Municipal Stadium, with the Glass Rabbits winning 3-0 over their Thai League 2 opponents.

2019 champions PT Prachuap also booked their semifinal ticket, making their third final four appearance in the competition in the past three editions after seeing off fellow top-flight side Lamphun Warriors 2-0 at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiangmai.