Selangor FC’s dream of lifting the Shopee Cup 2025/26 suffered a setback after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Buriram United in the first leg of the final at the MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya.
Buriram United arrived in Petaling Jaya with confidence and immediately showed their attacking intent. The visitors threatened twice inside the opening 10 minutes, forcing Selangor’s defence into early alert mode.
The first warning came in the fifth minute when Suphanat Mueanta capitalised on a quickly taken throw-in before firing an effort across the face of goal.
Five minutes later, Buriram attacked again down the right flank, with Kingsley Schindler trying his luck, although his attempt drifted wide of the target.
Selangor’s resistance was finally broken in the 24th minute. Suphanat timed his run perfectly from deep before rising to head home a teasing cross from veteran playmaker Theerathon Bunmathan, leaving goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel stranded as Buriram seized a crucial away lead.
The home side thought they had found an equaliser in the 32nd minute when Mohammad Abualnadi reacted quickest to finish after Alvin Fortes’ free-kick struck the crossbar. However, celebrations were cut short after the assistant referee flagged for offside.
Selangor continued to push forward before the break, with Chrigor Moraes coming close in the 42nd minute, but the Brazilian striker’s header drifted off target as Buriram carried their slender advantage into halftime.
The Thai champions resumed the second half with the same intensity, testing Selangor repeatedly through Peter Zulj and Kenneth Dougall, although the Red Giants’ defence managed to survive the pressure.
Despite trailing, Selangor showed resilience and nearly found the breakthrough on several occasions. Hugo Boumous rattled the post in the 66th minute, while Ahmad Zikri Khalili saw his effort blocked by a desperate Buriram defence seven minutes later.
However, Buriram’s organisation and composure ultimately proved enough to secure the 1-0 victory and hand Mark Jackson’s side a valuable advantage heading into the return leg in Thailand.
It was also Selangor’s first defeat of their Shopee Cup campaign, ending an impressive seven-match unbeaten run in the tournament.
The result leaves the Malaysian side with a mountain to climb ahead of the decisive second leg at Buriram Stadium on 27 May, where Kim Pan-gon’s men must overturn the deficit against the defending champions on hostile territory.
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo
