The group stage of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 provided plenty of entertainment with several memorable matches being played over the last two weeks.
20 matches involving 10 nations concluded on Saturday and now we pick five of the best group stage matches witnessed in the 15th edition of the prestigious tournament so far.
ASEAN United FC asks you, the fans, to vote for the favourite match you have witnessed in the group stage of this year’s tournament. Vote now at the foot of the article!
Cambodia 2-2 Malaysia (Group A)
8 December, 2024
The opening match of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 set the tone for what is to come over the next one month or so. Cambodia played hosts to Malaysia at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, as the fantastic crowd of 24,886 were treated to an entertaining affair.
Stuart Wilkin’s diving header gave the visitors the lead in the 35th minute however the Koupreys stormed back within 15 minutes of the restart in the second half. Abdel Kader Coulibaly finished off a wonderful flowing move and then Sa Ty bundled home a corner to send the home support into raptures.
Fergus Tierney came off the bench to drill in a low-driven shot from outside the box to secure a share of the spoils. Despite a 2-2 scoreline, it was the first time Cambodia had picked up a point against a former champion at the ASEAN Championship.
That just goes on to show the amount of progress they have made in recent times with Cambodia producing an attacking brand of football in all of their matches.
Malaysia 3-2 Timor-Leste (Group A)
11 December, 2024
Yet another game involving Malaysia and this time it was an all-time classic in ASEAN Championship history! Malaysia were at home against a Timor-Leste side that has never registered a point in the competition before and so it was supposed to be a straightforward match.
All was going well for the 2010 champions at the Bukit Jalil National National Stadium when Syafiq Ahmad gave them the lead in the 37th minute. However, what followed next was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
Within just three minutes of first-half stoppage time, the outlook of the contest completely changed. Olagar Xavier scored Timor-Leste’s first ASEAN Championship goal since 2018 before Joao Pedro netted arguably the goal of the tournament, with the Timorese winger also providing a breathtaking assist for the first goal.
In the second half, Paulo Josue rescued Harimau Malaya from an ignominious defeat scoring twice to help his team ultimately emerge victorious 3-2. Having come mightily close to their first-ever point, the Timorese players earned massive respect from football fans all across the region in a match that will live long in the memory.
Indonesia 3-3 Laos (Group B)
12 December, 2024
The following day, Indonesia and Laos played out a six-goal thriller at the Manahan Stadium in Surakarta in a see-saw match. Indonesia had decided to play their home matches at Persis Solo’s home stadium in Central Java, in a venue that had staged the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup last year.
Kadek Arel and Muhammad Ferarri cancelled out goals from Phousomboun Panyavong and Phathana Phommathep as the score stood at 2-2 after just 18 minutes in a breathtaking start.
Ferarri, who was wearing the captain’s armband, scored another header in the second half to give Team Garuda the lead for the first time in the match only for Peeter Phanthavong to make it 3-3 and bring out his dance moves.
It turned out to be Laos’ first point against Indonesia after 12 years in yet another example of why the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ has continued to thrill Southeast Asian football lovers for so many years.
Singapore 2-4 Thailand (Group A)
17 December, 2024
Singapore and Thailand were the teams that made it out of Group A, and they served up a classic match when they met on Matchday Four at the National Stadium in Kallang.
Shawal Anuar scored a stunning opener when he expertly brought down goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud’s long kick and then let fly from distance in the 10th minute. Faris Ramli on the other wing for the Lions was proving to be a menace too and he cut inside before finding the top corner to double the lead in the 34th minute.
Patrik Gustavsson and Suphanat Mueanta responded for the two-time defending champions and the match was seemingly heading for a draw. However, Thailand weren’t satisfied and pushed forward in search of the winner.
Captain Peeradon Chamratsamee connected with his outstretched foot in the 93rd minute to put the ball into the net, as the goal was awarded after a lengthy VAR check following which the War Elephants rejoiced in celebration. Teerasak Poeiphimai put the icing on the cake to make it 4-2 as Thailand remain the only team with a 100% record so far.
Myanmar 3-2 Laos (Group B)
18 December, 2024
The Laotians were involved in another dramatic game this time away in Yangon as they came up against Myanmar on the penultimate matchday.
Lwin Moe Aung broke the deadlock with a header just past the half-hour mark only for Kydavone Souvanny to equalise and also match his celebration in the second half.
Chony Wenpaserth thought he had won it for Laos when he chipped the keeper to restore Laos’ lead in the 81st minute. However, Myanmar forward Win Naing Tun had other ideas!
The 24-year-old popped up with two goals from close range, including the winning goal in the 93rd minute as Myanmar won it 3-2 at the death and kept their qualification hopes alive heading into the final group game.
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