Since arriving at Buriram United in mid-2024, Neil Etheridge has established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, though he did not feature in Buriram’s ASEAN Club Championship-winning run last season when Chatchai Budprom started and saved three penalties in the shootout victory over Công An Hà Nội.
Etheridge made his tournament debut in Buriram’s fourth game, a 4-1 win over BG Tampines Rovers, which was his only group-stage appearance. He returned to the starting XI for the semifinals against Johor Darul Ta’zim, after Buriram took a 3-1 lead from the first leg away.
JDT mounted a comeback at Chang Arena, scoring twice in the 90 minutes to force extra time before Kingsley Schindler’s extra-time winner sent Buriram through to the final. Etheridge conceded a penalty in that match after spilling a high ball and then colliding with Marcos Guilherme; the foul was called following a VAR review and Bérgson da Silva converted from the spot.
Late in extra time, Etheridge produced a reflex save in the 121st minute to keep out a knuckleball free kick from Óscar Arribas and preserve Buriram’s passage. He downplayed the idea that he alone had rescued the team, instead crediting his teammates and pointing to other instances such as a shootout win over Melbourne City in the AFC Champions League Elite round of 16, where he also saved penalties, according to ESPN.
Buriram will face Selangor in the final, beginning with the first leg in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday, and Etheridge is expected to be involved. He reiterated that personal status is secondary to the club’s success, saying, according to ESPN, “The more important thing is the club win it. It’s not about me,” and noting he was happy for Chatchai when the veteran lifted the trophy last year.
