Thai League 1 leaders Bangkok United wrote a new chapter for themselves when they beat Lion City Sailors from Singapore 1-0 in Group F of the AFC Champions League to reach the knockout stage for the first time on Wednesday night.
The home side were forced to work hard at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani before Rungrath Poomchantuek's 86th-minute free-kick settled the tie.
Bangkok United's only other participation in the ACL proper ended in the group stage in 2007.
"I am very proud and happy with the achievement," said coach Totchtawan Sripan.
It has been a sterling campaign for the Angels, the 13 points collected from five matches securing top spot despite the presence of two-time ACL winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the group.
The two teams will meet on Dec 13 with the South Koreans needing victory to stand a chance of advancing as one of the three best runners-up from the East zone.
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Thursday it will wait for the referee's report before deciding whether to punish two teams following a mass brawl in a Group H game.
Punches were thrown and the benches of both sides got involved when Wednesday's encounter between China's Zhejiang and away side Buriram United of Thailand descended into violence.
It was unclear what sparked it, but the chaotic scene erupted shortly after the final whistle of Zhejiang's bad-tempered 3-2 victory.
"We are waiting for reports from the referee and match commissioner," AFC general secretary Windsor John told AFP, adding that "the relevant bodies will deal with it".
Multiple punches and kicks were exchanged between the two teams and at least two players ended up on the floor. One grabbed an opponent in a headlock. Security personnel raced onto the pitch at Huzhou Olympic Sports Center to restore order.
The result, coupled with Japanese club Ventforet Kofu's 3-3 draw with Melbourne City, means things are finely poised in Group H with all four teams still within a shout of reaching the last 16.
Ventforet and Melbourne are both on eight points with Zhejiang and Buriram two adrift, making it all to play for in the last matches. agencies