Hanoi, 28 November 2025 – Buriram United FC and Hanoi Police FC will meet again on Wednesday in a high-stakes Group A clash of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™, a rematch of their unforgettable final six months ago. Coach Mano Polking of the V.League 1 side admits the upcoming encounter is essentially a “do-or-die” match for both teams.
The Brazilian tactician still feels the sting of May’s dramatic Shopee Cup™ final, when Hanoi Police FC fell to Buriram in a penalty shootout after an extraordinary 5–5 aggregate draw—one of the most thrilling finals in the tournament’s history.
Now, as the two clubs prepare to face off again at Buriram’s Thunder Castle, the circumstances are starkly different.
“What makes this kind of game really interesting is that we know one of us will be killed by the end,” Polking said. “We hope that will not be us, because Buriram have had the same bad start as we did.
“They have two points, we have three. Only two teams go through to the next round, so I believe neither team can afford to lose. There’s a lot of pressure on both sides, probably more on them because they’re at home. They are the champions and the favourites, but we also reached the final and played two good matches against them.
“I expect another very tense and very difficult match between two strong teams. And I also expect them to fill the stadium again.”
Both clubs have experienced uneven starts to their 2025/26 Shopee Cup™ campaigns. Hanoi Police FC lost their opener against BG Pathum United FC, then recovered with a late 1–0 win over DH Cebu FC. Buriram United, meanwhile, opened with draws against Selangor FC and BG Pathum United, placing them one point behind Hanoi Police FC at the halfway stage. With only the top two teams guaranteed a place in the semi-finals, pressure is mounting.
Despite the significance of Wednesday’s showdown, Polking insists the match is not about revenge for last season’s heartbreaking final defeat.
“That game, especially, I will never forget in my life or my career,” he said. “I will carry it with me until I pass away. I will tell my children and my grandchildren about it.
“But it’s not about revenge. I’ve played against Buriram many times. I know the players there. I know how good they are. Of course, I would like to face them in a final again and try to do it better, but that scenario probably doesn’t exist anymore. Right now, we just need the points. It’s not revenge—just a tough match that we know will be very difficult.”
Hanoi Police FC are competing in four tournaments this season, and Polking believes the intensity of international competition is pushing his squad to improve.
“These are the kinds of games we love to play,” he said. “We like the big matches. The international games help us a lot in the league because they are more physical and the quality is higher. It helps us grow.
“We are having a better second season since I arrived, and I hope we continue that way. It’s not easy to play in four competitions at once—we have some small injuries here and there—but it will be a good match.”
As Group A stands, Selangor lead with four points and a superior goal difference over BG Pathum United. Tampines Rovers FC sit third with three points, narrowly behind the leaders.
Vinh Hung
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