The second round of fixtures in the ASEAN Club Championship
Shopee Cup™ delivered the goods in fine fashion as some of best players in
Southeast Asia turned on a show for their respective clubs.
Another six games took place across four countries with no
shortage of drama and goals as the competition threw up some matches that will
live long in the memory.
As the tournament gets set to take a break until early 2025, we look back at the players who were named the Shopee Star of the Match and ask you to vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article.
Akhyar Rashid (Terengganu FC)
Malaysia international Akhyar Rashid raced onto Safawi
Rasid’s flicked header, took three quick touches to evade the defenders and
create space for himself before fizzing home an effort from distance to open
the scoring against Đông Á Thanh Hóa.
The forward was lively throughout, involved in the majority of Terengganu’s attacks, took on the opposition defenders at will and was the biggest threat on the pitch. His performance saw him named the Shopee Star of the Match, although his side let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2.
Teerasil Dangda (BG Pathum United)
“Chanathip to Teerasil – goal!” You’ve heard that one before
and it happened again on Wednesday as the iconic Thai duo combined to ensure BG
Pathum United picked up their first win of the Shopee Cup.
While Teerasil may not have been at the centre of the action for much of the 2-1 win over PKR Svay Rieng, he delivered when it mattered the most. The striker produced a typically predatory first-time finish after being picked out by his long-time War Elephants teammate as, no sooner had the Cambodians equalised on the hour, BG Pathum netted the decisive goal.
Abdul Rahman (PSM Makassar)
He may only have been on the pitch for half of the game, but
what a telling contribution Abdul Rahman made after replacing the injured
Nermin Haljeta on the stroke of half-time to help PSM Makassar collect all
three points.
With the game at 3-3, Rahman won the penalty which gave Yuran Fernandes the chance to win it with 12 minutes to play. Then, after the captain missed from the spot, the 22-year-old midfielder proved the hero by heading home the winner in stoppage time of an enthralling match.
Lucas Crispim (Buriram United)
Having scored a 44-minute hat-trick, it’s little wonder
Lucas Crispim picked up the Shopee Star of the Match award after the Brazilian attacking
midfielder helped Buriram storm to an eye-opening 7-0 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo.
The 30-year-old’s deflected effort from 20 yards opened the scoring in the ninth minute before a pair of pinpoint headers in the 50th and 53rd minutes put his side four up. Three goals from Crispim and three points for Buriram as they got their first points in Group B.
Leo Artur (Công An Hà Nôi FC)
Another player who bagged a treble was Công An’s Leo Artur who
finished off an exquisite team move to put his side a goal up on the half hour against
Lion City Sailors, but what came next from the Number 10 was even better.
With his team three up, the Brazilian unleashed an unstoppable rocket from 25 yards that flew into the back of the net in an early contender for goal of the tournament. A late goal then completed his hat-trick and a 5-0 win for the Vietnamese club.
Brendan Gan (Kuala Lumpur City FC)
Last but not least, Brendan Gan stole the headlines for KL
City as the Malaysia international’s goal with 13 minutes to play against Borneo
FC saw his side maintain their 100% record in Group B.
Having done his defensive duties well by blocking a Stefano Lilipaly shot in the first half, the 36-year-old then became the match-winner at the other end when he emphatically sent Zhafri Yahya’s assist into the back of the net with 14 minutes to play.
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