Two-time champions Vietnam will challenge reigning champions Thailand for the coveted title in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ final for the second time running after the two sides emerged victorious in the semi-final second legs held on Sunday and Monday.
While Vietnam posted a commanding 3-1 win against Singapore in their home second leg to wrap up a 5-1 aggregate victory, reigning champions Thailand and the Philippines played out a thrilling tie which was won by the hosts in extra-time at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
As we inch towards an exciting conclusion to the tournament, ASEAN United FC lets you, the fans, pick the best goal from the second legs of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ semi-finals by voting at the bottom of the article.
Kyoga Nakamura (vs Vietnam)
Four-time champions Singapore bowed out of the competition in the semi-finals, but they leave after gifting the fans with some of the best goals that the 15th edition of the ASEAN Championship have seen, with Kyoga Nakamura adding to the brilliant strikes from Shawal Anuar and Faris Ramli from the group stage.
After opening his account for the Lions with a goal from the penalty spot against Timor-Leste earlier in the tournament, Nakamura grabbed his second with a stunning left-footed strike from 30 yards out which bounced in front of the diving Nguyen Dinh Trieu and nestled into the back of the net.
Patrik Gustavsson (vs Philippines)
Patrik Gustavsson continued his fine scoring run for defending champions Thailand as he bagged his fourth goal of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ in their 3-1 extra-time victory over the Philippines in the second leg – with only Vietnam’s Nguyen Xuan Son having scored more than him in the competition.
Gustavsson made a well-timed run to get in behind the Philippines defence as he latched onto a Weerathep Pomphun pass. With the angle closing on him rapidly, the 23-year-old produced a smart first-time finish through the legs of goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad to double Thailand’s advantage in the 56th minute.
Bjorn Kristensen (vs Thailand)
The Philippines were heading for another semi-final exit in the ASEAN Championship when Bjorn Kristensen came off the bench and made an instant impact with an 84th-minute strike against holders Thailand that levelled the tie on aggregate and took the second leg into extra-time.
Receiving the pass from Christian Rontini with his back to the goal, 22-year-old Kristensen was tightly marked by Suphanan Bureerat but the striker shifted the ball onto his right foot to make some space to strike a low drive with venom past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai.
Suphanat Mueanta (vs Philippines)
A penalty shootout was looming in the semi-final tie between Thailand and the Philippines when Suphanat Mueanta once again proved to be the gamechanger for the reigning champions by heading home the all-important winner with only four minutes of extra-time remaining at Rajamangala Stadium.
Not the tallest of players on the field, the young Buriram United winger managed to get in front of Philippines defender Paul Tabinas and positioned himself perfectly in the box to plant a brilliant header past Quincy Kammeraad and send the holders into the final against Vietnam.
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