Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: AFC Champions League debutants Buriram PEA defeated Thai Port 2-0 in the final of the League Cup to complete an unprecedented clean sweep of all three of Thailand's domestic silverware.
With the 2011 Thailand Premier League title in the bag Buriram defeated Muang Thong United to lift the Thai FA Cup and completed the treble after a 21st minute Rangsan Vivatchaichok free-kick and a strike in second-half stoppage-time from Cameroon U-20 midfielder Clarence Bitang saw the 2012 ACL Group H side sink Thai Port in Saturday's clash at the Supachalasai Stadium.
"We are very happy and we have been rewarded for our hard work. We will have a tougher task next season though as we will also play in the AFC Champions League," said Buriram coach Attaphol Puspakom, who led BEC Tero Sasana to the final of the inaugural ACL before overseeing another campaign in Asia's premier club competition with Krung Thai Bank in 2008.
Buriram PEA are in Group H of the 2012 AFC Champions League and face a tough introduction to continental club football having been pooled with J.League champions Kashiwa Reysol, K-League winners and 2011 ACL runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Chinese Super League title winners Guangzhou Evergrande.
The Thailand treble winners make their ACL debut on March 7 when they host Kashiwa.