The group stage of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 is entering its business end with three of the five matchdays in the 15th edition of the regional showpiece now complete.
Singapore and Thailand both made it two wins from as many matches by defeating Timor-Leste and Malaysia respectively in Group A while Laos held the Philippines and Vietnam posted a statement 1-0 win against Indonesia in Group B.
ASEAN United FC looks at four players who starred for their nations in the third round of fixtures and lets you, the fans, pick who deserves to be the Best Player of Matchday 3 by voting at the bottom of the article.
Shawal Anuar (Singapore)
Shawal Anuar took his tally to three goals in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ as Singapore maintained their perfect record with a 3-0 win against Timor-Leste. After scoring in their 2-1 opening win against Cambodia, the attacker was involved in all three goals for the Lions on Saturday.
Shawal came off the bench to earn the penalty from which Singapore opened the scoring in the 76th minute before he turned home a cross from Safuwan Baharudin seven minutes later. Then he tapped in a loose ball past Junildo Pereira in the 90th minute to seal the victory and an impressive individual display.
Having scored twice in the 2022 edition, this is his best return in the tournament so far and if he continues at the right place at the right time for Singapore, the Lions can dream of a deep run in the competition.
Suphanat Mueanta (Thailand)
It was another Thailand win and another game-changing display from Suphanat Mueanta as the War Elephants edged Malaysia 1-0 in their second outing. While they ran out 10-0 winners against Timor-Leste in their opener, the contest against the 2010 champions gave them a very different challenge.
Suphanat continued to be the creative fulcrum for Masatada Ishii’s side and created problems for the Malaysian defence while cutting in from the right-hand side all evening, with the 22-year-old creating two of Thailand’s best chances in the first half though Patrik Gustavsson and Seksan Ratree failed to hit the target after good work from Suphanat.
But with chances few and far between, Suphanat created the opening for the winner as he closed down Haziq Nadzli and intercepted the Malaysia goalkeeper’s pass before laying it for Gustavsson to hit the all-important goal in the 57th minute.
Nguyen Quang Hai (Vietnam)
Nguyen Quang Hai came off the bench to spearhead Vietnam’s second-half resurgence against Laos and guide them to a 4-1 win in their Group B opener. And the 27-year-old once again proved to be the difference as they edged Indonesia 1-0 in their second match on Sunday.
Making his first start for Kim Sang-sik’s side at Viet Tri Stadium against fellow title contenders, Quang Hai produced the winner in the 76th minute, pouncing on a loose ball after his initial effort from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar.
Quang Hai, the MVP in Vietnam's victorious 2018 campaign, will hope to continue influencing the games in the same manner as they look to add to their two previous triumphs and claim a third title.
Phetdavanh Somsanid (Laos)
Laos continued to defy expectations in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ as they followed up a creditable 3-3 draw against Indonesia by holding the Philippines 1-1 in Vientiane.
The Laotians took the lead just past the half-hour mark through a Michael Baldisimo own goal and kept the incessant Filipino attacks at bay with a lot of credit going to captain Phetdavanh Somsanid, who was a rock at the centre of their defence.
Though they were denied a first win in the competition in 20 years by a Sandro Reyes goal in the 77th minute, skipper Phetdavanh and his players will take plenty of heart from another impressive display heading into their final group stage outing against Myanmar on Wednesday.
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