The 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship — a revival of the tournament after a 19-year hiatus — demanded a finale worthy of its long-awaited return. It received just that and more, as Thailand’s Buriram United and Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội FC delivered a two-legged epic for the ages. Ten goals across both legs, a last-minute equalizer, and a dramatic penalty shootout culminated in Buriram claiming the ACC title and the right to be called Southeast Asia’s finest.
May 14’s first leg at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium ended in a pulsating 2–2 draw, with CAHN drawing first blood through Leo Artur’s composed finish in the 18th minute after a flowing move initiated by Alan Grafite. It was the Brazilian’s fifth goal of the tournament, putting him atop the scoring charts alongside Buriram’s Lucas Crispim and Terengganu FC’s Safawi Rasid.
Buriram struck back just ten minutes later, as Curtis Good powered home a header from a Peter Zulj corner. Yet the home side reclaimed the lead before halftime through Grafite, who punished a defensive lapse to fire in from close range.
The Thai champions fought back in the second half and found their equalizer in the 79th minute. After Filip Nguyen had denied multiple efforts, Zulj capitalized on a rebound to make it 2–2. Nguyen Quang Hai’s late strike was cleared off the line and Bui Xuan Thinh struck the woodwork, but the spoils were ultimately shared, setting up a mouthwatering return leg in Buriram.
If the first leg was thrilling, May 21’s second leg was a footballing rollercoaster. Played in front of a raucous home crowd at Chang Arena, the match exploded into life with Jason Pendant giving CAHN the lead in the 15th minute after a sublime passing sequence. Artur then doubled the visitors’ advantage from the penalty spot in the 39th minute after a VAR-reviewed foul on Hugo Gomes.
Facing a two-goal deficit, Buriram surged forward with urgency. Filip Nguyen was again heroic, making a string of saves to keep the scoreline intact until the 83rd minute, when Peter Zulj pounced on a loose ball to halve the deficit. Then, deep into stoppage time, Lucas Crispim unleashed a thunderous 30-yard free-kick that cannoned in off the bar — a moment of pure magic that sent the final into extra time.
With the momentum now on Buriram’s side, the hosts struck again in the 104th minute. Crispim’s cross was handled by Giap Tuan Duong, and Guilherme Bissoli kept his nerve to convert from the spot. Just when it looked like the Thai side had done enough, Grafite once again emerged as CAHN’s savior, heading in from a corner with two minutes to play to complete a stunning 3–3 draw and force penalties.
The shootout brought its own share of drama. Zulj and Crispim scored for Buriram, while Le Van Do converted for the visitors. Chatchai Bootprom then stole the spotlight — saving three penalties, including the decisive one from Bui Hoang Viet Anh — to hand Buriram a 3–2 shootout win and ASEAN’s ultimate club prize.
This final was more than a clash of champions — it was a celebration of Southeast Asian football’s rising quality and competitiveness. Công An Hà Nội, led by former Thailand head coach Mano Polking, matched Buriram blow for blow over 210 minutes of action. Grafite, Artur, and Quang Hai dazzled, while Zulj, Crispim, and Chatchai proved equally pivotal for the Thai side.
Buriram United’s triumph is not only a historic milestone in the club’s glittering domestic record but a statement of regional supremacy. Their comeback, resilience, and flair throughout the tournament — capped by Chatchai Bootprom’s heroics in goal — cement their legacy as the first ACC champions after it’s revival in a tournament finale that will echo through ASEAN football folklore for years to come.