Tampines Fall Short Against Reigning Champions Buriram

Tampines Rovers were beaten by defending champions Buriram United as the Thai powerhouse ran out 4-1 winners in their ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup Group A clash at Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday night.

Facing one of Southeast Asia’s most accomplished sides, Tampines knew they were in for a stern examination. While the scoreline may appear harsh given the performance, it underlined the fine margins when competing against the region’s elite.

Pre-Match Context

The Stags entered the encounter in buoyant form. They had won two of their three Shopee Cup matches, including a memorable 3-2 comeback victory over BG Pathum United at the same venue in early December - and sat top of Group A with six points. That dramatic night saw Hide Higashikawa net a hat-trick on a newly re-turfed pitch, following the AFC’s ban on continental matches played on artificial surfaces.

Domestically, Tampines were also flying, coming off emphatic Singapore Premier League wins: a 7-1 statement against Young Lions and a 3-1 Eastern Derby triumph over rivals Geylang International.

Buriram arrived in Singapore placed fourth in the group but unbeaten, having drawn all three of their previous fixtures. The Thunder Castle, runaway leaders of the Thai League and a side rich in continental experience, named a strong starting XI that featured several players with international pedigree, including former Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and Thailand national team veteran Theerathon Bunmathan.

Cagey Opening, Cruel Breakthrough

Coach Noh Rahman recalled full-backs Raoul Suhaimi and Takeshi Yoshimoto to the starting lineup, with Shuya Yamashita and Dylan Fox continuing their partnership in central defence. Seiga Sumi, Shah Shahiran and Koya Kazama formed the midfield trio, while Glenn Kweh, Trent Buhagiar and leading scorer Hide Higashikawa led the line.

The opening exchanges were tense and evenly contested, with both sides cancelling each other out, and neither goalkeeper being troubled early on. Later in the game, a brief tactical tweak saw Glenn and Trent switch flanks in search of space against Buriram’s compact midfield, and it was at that point where the hosts began to find some joy. At the midway point of the half, neat interplay down the right released Glenn, who picked out Koya, but his first-time pass just eluded Hide.

Koya then attempted an audacious lob after capitalising on a poor clearance by Neil Etheridge, though the effort lacked conviction. Unfortunately for the hosts, moments later, Buriram struck.

A misplaced pass in midfield was ruthlessly punished as Suphanat Mueanta surged forward, and his shot deflecting off Dylan Fox and past Syazwan Buhari to silence the home crowd.

The goal shifted momentum firmly in Buriram’s favour, and the visitors began to assert control. Still, showing their composure in the face of adversity, the Stags nearly levelled just before the interval when Koya’s curling free-kick - after Seiga was fouled at the edge of the box - drifted narrowly wide.

Tampines went into the break trailing 1-0, but still very much in the contest.

Second-Half Surge, Then Separation

The Stags emerged with renewed intensity after the restart. Koya found Takeshi in space on the left, and his teasing cross was met by Hide, who could not keep his header down. It was an encouraging spell that suggested a comeback was possible.

However, Buriram delivered a clinical response in the 51st minute to further their advantage. A pinpoint cross from Theerathon Bunmathan found Guilherme Bissoli unmarked at the back post, and the Brazilian made no mistake from close range.

Tampines refused to fold. Trent saw a header crash against the post following a delightful delivery from Raoul Suhaimi, before Etheridge denied Trent again with a sharp save moments later after he found himself in acres of space.

A decisive moment arrived at the 67th minute mark when the Stags conceded a penalty, allowing Bissoli to calmly slot home his second of the night. The visitors then put the result beyond doubt soon after, with midfielder Goran Čaušić adding a fourth following a commanding display in the centre of the park.

Late Consolation, Hard Truths

The Stand - vocal throughout the night - were at least rewarded in stoppage time. Substitutes Joel Chew and Taufik Suparno combined smartly to pull a goal back, denying Etheridge a clean sheet and giving Tampines a deserved moment of celebration.

What The Result Means

The defeat sees Tampines Rovers slip to fourth place in Group A, setting up a crucial final group fixture next week. The Stags travel to Vietnam to face Công An Hà Nội knowing that only a win may be enough to secure progression to the semi-finals, depending on results elsewhere.

While the loss was a humbling experience, it also served as a valuable benchmark against one of the region’s finest. With qualification still firmly in their own hands, Tampines will look to learn, regroup, and rise to the challenge in Hanoi on February 4th.