AFC Champions League League Phase East - 8
Buriram United 2 - 0 FT Shanghai Shenhua
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
11' C. Good (P. Zulj)
22' S. Mueanta
↓ Saulo Mineiro ↑Gao Tianyi 28'
31' P. Zulj
Rafael Ratao 31'
Rafael Ratao 33'
Rafael Ratao 33'
HT
62' ↓ S. Mueanta ↑S. Jaided
62' ↓ S. Walsh ↑R. Sanchez
↓ M. Gueye ↑Liu Chengyu 65'
71' ↓ Bissoli ↑K. Junker
71' ↓ G. Causic ↑T. Bunmathan
↓ Wu Xi ↑Yang Haoyu 78'
↓ W. Manafa ↑Yang Zexiang 78'
↓ L. Ke ↑Q. Wu 78'
Liu Chengyu 80'
83' ↓ T. Bunmathan ↑P. Sukjitthammakul
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Buriram United
Goalkeepers
Neil Etheridge 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Sandy Walsh 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Myeong-seok Ko 
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
83
Passes
2
Duels
Curtis Good 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Eduardo Mancha
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Goran Čaušić
MAGNET
80
Activity
80
Activity
76
Passes
4
Duels
Kingsley Schindler
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Robert Žulj 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Peter Žulj
MAGNET
82
Activity
82
Activity
69
Passes
13
Duels
Suphanat Mueanta 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.7
Rating
Forwards
Guilherme Bissoli
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
BENCH
Chatchai Bootprom 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Theerathon Bunmathan
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
83
Entry
Shinnaphat Leeaoh
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Narubodin Weerawatnodom
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Filip Stojković
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pansa Hemviboon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sasalak Haiprakhon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Emmanuel Toku
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rubén Sánchez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Supachai Chaided
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kasper Junker
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shanghai Shenhua
Goalkeepers
Xue Qinghao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Wilson Manafá
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Jin Shunkai
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Chenjie Zhu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shinichi Chan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Xi Wu
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Ke Li
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Carlos Teixeira
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
10
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Saulo Mineiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
28
Entry
Makhtar Gueye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Rafael Ratão 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.3
Rating
BENCH
Zhen Ma
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Zexiang Yang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wu Qipeng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shilong Wang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ming Huang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tianyi Gao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haoyu Yang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jiawen Han
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haijian Wang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haoyang Xu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pengfei Xie
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chengyu Liu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Buriram's Early Blitz Leaves Shenhua Reeling
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 35/100. This was a clinical demolition that exposed the massive gulf in composure between the two sides on the continental stage.
The Early Blitz
The atmosphere at the Chang Arena was electric, and Buriram United responded with a whirlwind start that left the visitors shell-shocked. The Intensity rating was off the charts during the opening exchanges as the Thai side pinned their opponents back from the first whistle. It took only 11 minutes for the breakthrough to arrive. Peter Žulj delivered a pinpoint ball that found Curtis Good, who made no mistake in finishing to set the tone. Buriram didn't let up, sensing a vulnerability in the Chinese side's backline. The Balance of the match shifted entirely in their favour when Suphanat Mueanta doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute. It was a masterclass in exploiting space, as Shanghai Shenhua's defensive structure completely disintegrated under the relentless pressure of the home side.
The Turning Point
Just as Shanghai Shenhua attempted to catch their breath and find a foothold, the Stakes reached a breaking point. In the 33rd minute, any realistic hope of a comeback evaporated when Rafael Ratao saw red. The dismissal was the ultimate self-inflicted wound for a team already trailing by two goals. With a man advantage, Buriram transitioned into a mode of total control, turning the pitch into a giant game of keep-away. They dominated possession with a staggering 69% share, moving the ball with a precision that Shanghai simply could not match. The Upset Factor, which was already low given the early goals, plummeted to zero as the visitors were forced into a desperate defensive block just to keep the scoreline respectable before the half-time interval even arrived.
The Professional Finish
The second half was a case study in game management. Buriram United were content to cycle the ball, racking up 607 passes with an 89% accuracy rate that effectively drained the life out of the match. While they didn't add to their two-goal cushion, the statistics told the story of a completely one-sided affair. A barrage of 13 shots kept the Shanghai goal under constant threat, while the visitors were restricted to a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes. For Shanghai Shenhua, this fifth loss in their last six matches highlights a deepening crisis in form. Meanwhile, Buriram United climb the table with confidence, proving they have the technical quality and tactical discipline to be a serious threat in this season's AFC Champions League knockout conversations.
Key Questions
How did the red card for Rafael Ratao impact the match?
The 33rd-minute red card extinguished any comeback hopes, forcing Shanghai into defensive survival while Buriram dominated with 69% possession and 607 passes.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Survival Instincts at Chang Arena
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 48/100. Buriram United look to lock down a top-8 finish while Shanghai Shenhua fight for their continental lives in this final league phase fixture.
The Setup
The stakes are crystal clear as the AFC Champions League phase reaches its climax at the Chang Arena. Buriram United enter this match in a position of relative strength, sitting 5th in the table with 11 points. They have maintained a steady Form rating of 5.3, punctuated by a resilience that has kept them within the direct qualification bracket. In contrast, Shanghai Shenhua arrive in Thailand with their backs against the wall. A dismal run of four consecutive losses was only recently snapped, leaving them in 11th place and desperate for points to breach the top-24 playoff line. A Stakes score of 4.8 reflects a match where one side is playing for seeding while the other is playing for sheer survival.
Key Battle
The tactical narrative centers on whether Shanghai's fragile defense can withstand the movement of Buriram's frontline. Bissoli and S. Mueanta provide a dynamic pairing that thrives on quick transitions, a nightmare for a visiting side that has conceded 11 goals in seven matches. Shanghai will look to Rafael Ratão and M. Gueye to provide the spark on the counter, but the visitors' lack of Balance between attack and defense has been their undoing all season. If Luís Asué cannot find space between the lines, the Chinese side may find themselves starved of opportunities.
Our Prediction
Buriram United’s home advantage and superior organization should see them through. Shanghai Shenhua's tendency to crumble under sustained pressure suggests a match controlled by the hosts. We expect Buriram to dominate possession and exploit the gaps left by a desperate Shanghai side pushing for an unlikely winner. A comfortable 2-0 victory for Buriram United will solidify their place in the top 8, while Shanghai Shenhua's continental journey likely ends here.