True Bangkok United made it three wins out of three after the Angels had beaten Hong Kong champions Kitchee 2-1 in Wednesday’s AFC Champions League match at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Having lost both of their opening ACL matches this season, hosts Kitchee had a promising start. In the 6th minute, Fernando’s long ball caught Bangkok United’s goalkeeper Pathiwat Khammai off guard, allowing Jakob Jantscher to score an early tap-in. Making things even worse for Bangkok United, their star midfielder Thitipan Puangchan suffered a severe knee injury in the 21st minute and was replaced by Lebanon international Bassel Jradi.
As the game progressed, Bangkok United gained control and leveled the score just before half-time, with Rungrath Poomchantuek capitalizing on Mahmoud Eid’s precise cross.
The second half saw the visitors taking the lead for the first time after a penalty was awarded following a VAR review of Fernando’s handball in the area, which Willen Mota coolly converted.
Both teams had opportunities to change the scoreline; Everton’s header hit the crossbar, while Ruslan Mingasov forced a save from Pathiwat. Kitchee’s Charlie Scott and substitute Igor Sartori also tested the opposition’s defense.
Despite a late red card for Jradi, reducing Bangkok United to 10 men, Kitchee couldn’t capitalize on their advantage. Despite a fierce attack on the Bangkok United goal, Kitchee suffered their third consecutive continental defeat, while the Angels cemented themselves on top of Group F with three wins out of three, having beaten Singapore’s Lion City Sailors and South Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in their previous outings.