Prince Ampem Scored a First Half Hat Trick as Shanghai Port Won a Ten Goal Thriller at Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi substitute Njiva Rakotoharimalala answered with his own hat-trick in the final 20 minutes, but the Thai side still lost their opening Champions League Elite match.
Shanghai Port beat Ratchaburi 6-4 in Thailand on 15 September 2026 in the first round of the AFC Champions League Elite East Zone league stage. The Sports Encounter described the game as the most chaotic contest of the opening round.
Ghanaian winger Prince Ampem, on loan from Eyupspor, gave the Chinese side control with a first-half hat-trick. He scored in the 31st and 36th minutes and completed his treble just before the interval to put Shanghai Port 3-0 up at half-time. Wu Lei added a fourth goal early in the second half.
Ratchaburi then mounted a fightback. Substitute Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored three times in the final 20 minutes, including a goal in stoppage time, and Ekanit Panya was also on target for the Thai club. Late goals from Jaume Grau and Leonardo made sure of the points for the visitors.
Ampem now has seven goals and two assists in all competitions in 2026, according to AfricaSoccer. World Soccer Talk reported that he shares the early lead in the scoring chart on three goals with Rakotoharimalala and Kashima Antlers striker Aleksandar Cavric, who struck three times in a 7-1 win over Newcastle Jets. Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score as Al Nassr lost 4-0 at Al Ain in the West Zone.
It was a difficult opening round for Thai clubs. Port lost 2-1 at home to Vissel Kobe in Bangkok on 16 September, while Buriram United drew 1-1 away to Johor Darul Ta'zim on 15 September.