Therdsak Chaiman's coaching career got off to a winning start as Chonburi beat Myanmar's Yangon United 3-2 after extra time to advance in the AFC Champions League play-offs.
Chonburi's Anderson dos Santos heads the ball against Yangon United.
Chonburi will now to go FC Tokyo on Feb 9 with the winners entering the ACL group stage.
Hosts Chonburi rallied twice in regulation time to force the match into overtime.
The Sharks, playing for the first time under former national team playmaker Therdsak, started off in an impressive manner yesterday.
Chonburi also gave starts to newcomers Prakit Deeprom, Narong Chansaweak and Brazilian forward Rodrigo Vergilio in yesterday's epic battle.
Anderson dos Santos headed home a Korrakot Wiriyaudomsiri free-kick in the second half to write off Yangon United's edge gained through a Marcelo Fenandes strike early in the match.
Suttinun Phukhom came to Chonburi's rescue with a late header to salvage another tie after Kyaw Ko Ko had put the visitors ahead in the 79th minute.
Kroekrit Taweekarn claimed the clincher for Chonburi 15 minutes into extra time of the hotly-contested match, which saw both sides lose a player each to red-card offences.
Fenandes shrewdly beat an offside trap and his shot left Chonburi's new goalkeeper Tanachai Noorach with no chance in the 18th minute.
Chonburi made regular forays into their rivals' half but but were pushed back as the reigning Myanmar champions packed their defence well.
The Sharks were more attacking of the two sides but lacked clinical finishing up front.
Yangon United strategy had been to concentrate on defending and look for opportunities to counter-attack and it worked well for them.
However, they paid the price for being too defensive in overtime as Chonburi, who were third in the Thai Premier League last season, scored the winner.