Highlights in CAHN’s defeat against the Thai representative

Despite the 1-2 loss to BG Pathum in the first Group A match at the ASEAN Shopee Cup 2025/26, CAHN managed to display some bright spots in their performance.

The opening match of Group A at the ASEAN Shopee Cup 2025/26 ended with CAHN’s 1-2 defeat to BG Pathum United, but the Capital team’s performance left several positive impressions. The most notable strength under coach Mano Polking was the team’s flexible coordination between the center and the wings, creating a coherent and deep tactical approach. Unfortunately, the attacking line lacked the precision needed to convert chances into goals.

Right from the first minutes, CAHN entered the game confidently and quickly took control of possession. The mobility across positions allowed the team to easily shift the ball from the center to the flanks.

This approach made it difficult for BG Pathum to mark players, as CAHN’s smooth transitions kept the element of surprise and continuously created space. From one such coordinated play, Leo Artur drifted into the center and delivered a pass that opened up a clear opportunity for the forward to break through, resulting in Alan’s goal in the 21st minute.

On the wings, CAHN’s wide players demonstrated both pace and skill. Le Van Do repeatedly charged into the box or cut the ball back to the second line for midfielders to finish.

During the first half, this style of play unsettled BG Pathum’s defense, forcing the home team’s backline to drop deep and cover. The connection between the lines was well maintained, helping CAHN manage the tempo of the match quite securely.

However, the biggest issue was converting chances. CAHN had 21 shots, but their strikers lacked the composure to close out the game. In the second half, as BG Pathum pushed forward searching for an equalizer, CAHN still found space to counterattack, but impatience in finishing continued to cost them.

This wastefulness proved costly. “Thai Messi” Chanathip Songkrasin scored twice, helping BG Pathum come from behind to win 2-1 in the final minutes. The goals conceded stemmed from defensive lapses, but if CAHN’s attack had made better use of opportunities created from both wing and central plays, the outcome could have been very different.

Nevertheless, overall, CAHN’s playing style showed many positives. The cohesion in midfield, ball control, and unpredictability on the wings indicate the team can achieve good results in upcoming matches.

The remaining issue is simply accuracy in finishing, which will determine whether CAHN can turn their dominance into actual victories.

The loss to BG Pathum was a warning, but also an opportunity for CAHN to improve. If the attacking line can better capitalize on the team’s smooth combinations from the center and wings, the Capital team could make a strong comeback and assert themselves in this season’s ASEAN Shopee Cup.