Thailand and Vietnam will battle it out for the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 title in the two-legged tie after the two sides emerged on top in the semi-finals that concluded on Monday.
While holders Thailand overcame a strong challenge from the Philippines in the semi-final second leg in Bangkok, Vietnam posted a comprehensive victory against Singapore as they moved another step closer to their third ASEAN Championship title.
ASEAN United FC takes a look at the stars who impressed for their sides in the semi-final return legs and lets you, the fans, pick the best player from the second legs of the last-four ties by voting at the bottom of the article.
Nguyen Hoang Duc (Vietnam)
Vietnam midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc has been a one-club man having come through the ranks at Viettel FC before spending seven years with their first team. But 2024 has been a year of change for the 26-year-old as he joined the promotion-chasing Phu Dong Ninh Binh FC in the Vietnamese second division in October.
But Hoang Duc’s influence on the Vietnam national team remains strong, as evidenced during the semi-final second leg against Singapore when his brilliant work on the left-hand side and subsequent cross led to Nguyen Xuan Son doubling his side’s advantage and effectively putting the last-four tie to bed.
Having been on the losing side in the 3-2 aggregate defeat to Thailand in last season’s final, Hoang Duc will be hoping to win his first and Vietnam’s third ASEAN Championship title as they take on the War Elephants again in the final in the coming days.
Peeradol Chamrasamee (Thailand)
The ASEAN Championship is special for Peeradol Chamrasamee as it was in the 2022 edition of the regional showpiece that the midfielder established himself as a regular in the Thailand national team. He made his first competitive start for Thailand in the semi-final first leg against Malaysia in 2022 before playing a pivotal role in their title triumph.
He has since then gone on to represent his country at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers before wearing the captain’s armband at this year’s ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™. And his performances so far have been nothing short of excellent as the leader of this young group.
Peeradol was on target against Singapore in an important 4-2 victory for Masatada Ishii’s side in the group stage before producing a stunning finish to open the scoring in the second leg as the Thais overturned a 2-1 deficit from the first leg to progress to yet another ASEAN Championship title clash.
Nguyen Xuan Son (Vietnam)
Nguyen Xuan Son had to wait until Vietnam’s fourth and final group stage fixture to make his international debut, but only three matches later, the striker has now emerged as the leader in the Golden Boot race in the 15th edition of the ASEAN Championship with five goals.
Xuan Son has done so with a double on his debut against Myanmar and a goal against Singapore in the away semi-final first leg before another brace against the Lions in the second leg on Sunday, firmly establishing himself as the first-choice attacker for Kim Sang-sik in the tournament.
The 27-year-old won and converted a penalty to give the hosts the breakthrough at Viet Tri Stadium before doubling their lead in the second half. Xuan Son could have bagged a hat-trick from the spot late on, but it was substitute and 2022 joint topscorer Nguyen Tien Linh who sealed Vietnam’s 3-1 win in the second-half stoppage time.
Suphanat Mueanta (Thailand)
In the absence of several superstars including Chanathip Songkrasin and Theerathon Bunmathan, 22-year-old Suphanat Mueanta has produced one quality display after another for holders Thailand during the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ to show that the future of Thai football is safe in his hands.
On Monday, Thailand were searching for much-needed inspiration against a resilient Philippines, who came back from behind to force extra-time and go within four minutes of a penalty shootout. And Suphanat came off the bench to provide it as he popped up in the box to head home a cross from Worachit Kanitsribumphen to spark the celebrations at Rajamangala Stadium.
It was Suphanat’s fourth goal of the tournament which moved him level with teammate Patrik Gustavsson, Shawal Anuar and Nguyen Tien Linh among tournament’s leading scorers. With only Vietnam’s Nguyen Xuan Son ahead of him on five goals, the Thai attacker will not only have his eyes on the trophy but also the Golden Boot.
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