Lucas Crispim hit a hat-trick as Buriram United recorded a commanding 7-0 victory against the Philippines' Kaya FC-Iloilo in the inaugural Asean Club Championship (Shopee Cup) on Thursday night.
Brazilian Crispim opened the scoring for the Thai League 1 champions in the ninth minute before Supachai Chaided netted with an unmarked header six minutes later as the hosts went into half-time with a 2-0 lead at Chang Arena.
Crispim then completed his treble with two headed goals in the span of three minutes early in the second period before substitutes Athit Berg, Seksan Ratree and Chrigor scored to seal the 7-0 win as Buriram bounced back from a 2-1 defeat against Vietnam's Cong An Ha Noi in their opening Group B match last month.
"It was an important game and it was very good for our team to score the first goal early. But when we were 2-0 ahead, we had several chances but could not convert them. I talked with the players during the interval and they did better, which led to the goals in the second half," said Buriram coach Osmar Loss Vieira.
Crispim, who was voted as the best player of the match, said, "I am very happy that the team won the game today and I scored three goals. It is an important win because we lost in the first game."
Buriram's next match will be an away fixture at Australia's Central Coast Mariners in the AFC Champions League Elite on Oct 1.
In the Shopee Cup, Buriram will host Indonesia's Borneo FC Samarinda on Jan 9 while Kaya, without a point after two matches, will play Vietnam's Cong An Hanoi in Manila on the same day.