LONDON: On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Neil Etheridge of Buriram United will clash with familiar rival Ivan Toney during the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final.
This matchup, which marks their most important meeting yet, comes after previous encounters in England’s League One and Championship. For Etheridge, the Philippines national team keeper, this is a significant challenge as he aims to maintain his record of not conceding a goal to Toney in their past four meetings.
“You cross paths with many football players in your career but I definitely didn’t expect to see Ivan Toney again,” Etheridge shared from Buriram’s pre-match camp in Bangkok. “He’s a fantastic player who has made remarkable strides since our first encounter. I’ll enjoy going against him, but stats mean nothing when the match starts.”
After moving to Buriram from Birmingham City last summer, Etheridge has joined a club that has dominated the Thai League, securing the title for the past three seasons and gunning for a fourth. He expressed contentment with his decision. “The Thai League is the strongest in Southeast Asia, and Buriram has a clear ambition to push beyond the group stage, which attracted me,” he stated.
Facing Al-Ahli, a side known for their offensive prowess, including star player Riyad Mahrez, presents a stiff test. Al-Ahli leads the competition with 26 goals, with Mahrez being the second top scorer this season. Etheridge is aware of the challenge ahead against such high-caliber players.
“I came to Buriram to play against the best, and now with the investments in Saudi football, there’s an opportunity to face world-class players,” he added.
Buriram has had impressive performances this season, including a goalless draw against Vissel Kobe and wins against formidable teams like Ulsan Hyundai and Pohang Steelers. Their resilience shone through in a tense match against Johor Darul Ta’zim, where Etheridge kept a clean sheet, advancing Buriram into the quarter-finals against Al-Ahli.
“Every match felt tight, and the atmosphere was electric, especially in Malaysia,” Etheridge recalled. His status as captain and experienced player is vital as Buriram prepares for upset against the highly favored Al-Ahli, which has never won the ACL title despite previous close calls in 1986 and 2012.
“It’s a massive challenge playing in their stadium. They have a budget to attract top-tier talent,” Etheridge acknowledged while also embracing the opportunity. “We are the underdogs and there’s no pressure on us, which is liberating. In a knockout game, anything can happen. We will be tactically prepared and ready to give our best.”
