Kuching City in dramatic draw with Tampines Rovers

Gabriel Peres’ stoppage time header earned Kuching City a dramatic 2-2 draw with Tampines Rovers in their debut in the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup last night.

The Brazilian scored twice for his Malaysian Super League side in the dying minutes, also netting in the 86th minute to cancel out Nabel Yoshitaka Furusawa’s 13th minute opener before Kohya Kazama looked to have won the Group A meeting for the visitors in the 88th minute.

But a stunning effort from Gabriel Peres levelled the scores again as the tournament newcomers secured a deserved share of the points at Stadium Negeri in Kuching.

Kuching City had made a strong start as Aidil Sharin Sahak’s side sought an early opener with Safawi Rasid sweeping his left-foot shot from 25 yards towards the Tampines Rovers goal but Zharfan Rohaizad was equal to the task, diving to his right to collect.

Soon after Petrus Shitembi delivered an inviting cross from the right edge of the Singaporean side’s penalty area in the direction of Ajdin Mujagić but the forward could only head over the bar.

By the 13th minute, however, the visitors had gone in front. Hide Higashikawa’s searching cross from the right touchline was headed high into the air by Gabriel Peres and as the ball dropped, Furusawa steered his side-footed volley over the line from close range.

Ten minutes into the second half, Kazama pulled his opportunity to double Tampines Rovers’ lead wide of the goalkeeper’s right post from 12 yards out while Higashikawa fumbled his chance to add to the visitors’ advantage two minutes later.

Zharfan had to be at his best to deny Gabriel Peres in the 65th minute, the Tampines Rovers goalkeeper somehow tipping the Spanish defender’s close range header over the bar after João Pedro’s centre from the left found his team mate in space.

Moments later Jerome Etame’s curling strike from inside the area was only marginally high and wide of the top corner of Zharfan’s goal as the home side pushed for the equaliser.

The leveller came with four minutes remaining when Gabriel Peres unleashed his shot from 25 yards out, the ball taking a deflection on the way through the Tampines Rovers defensive line to beat Zharfan.

But two minutes later, home goalkeeper Haziq Nadsli gifted possession to Kazama and, after a one-two with Higashikawa, Tampines Rovers were back in front.

Gabriel Peres responded once again in the third minute of stoppage time, steering João Pedro’s cross from the right past Zharfan via the inside of the goalkeeper’s left post.

Holders Buriram United denied

Buriram United FC kicked off the defence of their title with a 0-0 draw against Borneo Samarinda at Buriram Stadium as Mario Silva’s side finished the game with 10 men.

Narubadin Weerawatnodom was sent off in the dying moments for a second bookable offence as the Thai League 1 champions and back-to-back winners of the Shopee Cup™ were left frustrated by the visitors.

Buriram United, winners of the first two editions, were left frustrated by Borneo and Narubadin’s late dismissal for hauling down Hugo Samir after already being booked saw the home side cling on to take a point in the season opener.

“We’re already the defending champions, and I believe the standard of our team is high enough to win the title again,” said Buriram United’s Thanakrit Chotmuangpak.

“However, after today’s match, we need to go back and fix the areas where we still aren’t good enough, especially in the final third and our finishing. But everyone worked very hard.”

Gabriel Peres’ stoppage-time header earned hosts Kuching City a dramatic draw with Tampines Rovers in the Malaysia Super League side’s debut.

The Brazilian scored twice for his side in the dying minutes, also netting in the 86th minute to cancel out Nabel Yoshitaka Furusawa’s 13th minute opener before Kohya Kazama looked to have won the Group A meeting for the visitors in the 88th minute.

But a stunning effort from Gabriel Peres levelled the scores again as the tournament newcomers secured a deserved share of the points at Stadium Negeri in Kuching.

“This man of the match is not for me, it’s for my group, my coach,” said Gabriel Peres, who was named the Shopee Star of the Match. “We work hard every today. It’s a good result. And now we need to focus more, more games ahead in the coming months.”

Hosts Ratchaburi earned their point through an injury-time goal by Scott Allardice, who struck late to frustrate fellow debutants Ho Chi Minh City Police FC.

The Vietnamese club took the lead through a delightful goal by Mạnh Đức Olaha in the 48th minute before Allardice scored the equaliser two minutes into added time.

Ho Chi Minh City Police struck soon after the interval when the enterprising Aldaír Ferreira picked out Olaha, who found the space and time to curl his left-footed shot into the far left corner beyond the outstretched Nopphon Lakhonphon.

Ho Chi Minh City Police’s Leo Gomes was denied a second for his side late in the game by Nopphon, and that proved crucial as Allardice then forced home the equaliser with his 92nd minute header from a corner kick.

Late Allardice equaliser gives Ratchaburi home draw

Ratchaburi FC needed an injury-time goal by Scott Allardice to earn a 1-1 home draw against fellow debutants Ho Chi Minh City Police FC in Group A.

The Vietnamese club took the lead through a delightful goal by Mạnh Đức Olaha in the 48th minute before Allardice earned a share of the points with the equaliser two minutes into added time.

The visitors settled down quickly at the Ratchaburi Stadium, with Nigerian-born striker Olaha unleashing a long-range attempt in the fourth minute that did not trouble Nopphon Lakhonphon in the Ratchaburi goal.

Two minutes later, Nguyễn Đức Phú released Aldaír Ferreira into space from a swift counter-attack and the Angolan’s attempt sailed just wide of the right post.

The Thai club enjoyed their best chance in the 15th minute when Ho Chi Minh City Police goalkeeper Patrik Lê Giang parried a corner kick into the path of Thiraphon Yoyoei but the veteran midfielder could not keep his attempt on target.

With former Australia international Jason Cummings and Juanjo Narváez dictating play for the Vietnamese side, Olaha threatened again just before half-time, unleashing a left-footed screamer from 25 yards which struck the right post.

Ratchaburi head coach Worrawoot Srimaka, a former Thailand international, made three changes at the restart and substitute Njiva Rakotoharimalala’s cross found Thiraphon who failed to connect cleanly to trouble Patrik.

The missed opportunity proved costly as two minutes later, Ho Chi Minh City Police struck. After dispossessing Allardice, the enterprising Aldaír picked out Olaha, who found the space and time to curl his left-footed shot into the far left corner beyond the outstretched Nopphon.

Ratchaburi pushed men forward and came close in the 55th minute. A corner kick by Sorawit Panthong was met at the near post by Bruno Mendes’ glancing header but there was no one from the home side to apply the finishing touch.

Substitute Robert Žulj, who joined Ratchaburi from Buriram United FC at the start of the season, also came close in the 64th minute and Mendes saw his headed goal disallowed two minutes later for offside.

Nopphon had to be at his best again in the 72nd minute, first coming out of his box to head away a cross destined for the unmarked Cummings and then immediately pulling off a fine stop to deny Leo Gomes’ rebound effort.

Gomes was denied again late in the game by Nopphon which proved crucial as Allardice then forced home the equaliser with his header from a corner kick.