The final matchday of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ proved to be a thrilling affair as PSM Makassar, BG Pathum United and Buriram United joined Công An Hà Nội FC in the semi-finals of the inaugural tournament.
A number of players put on high-quality displays as seven clubs from across Southeast Asia fought for the three remaining spots in the next stage of the competitions in the final set of fixtures which took place on Wednesday and Thursday.
ASEAN United FC looks at the six players who were named Shopee Star of the Match in the latest set of fixtures and asks you, the fans, to pick your favourite by voting at the bottom of the article.
Raniel Santana (BG Pathum United)
Raniel Santana has been one of BG Pathum United’s top performers in the Shopee Cup, having now scored four goals in five appearances in the tournament. The Brazilian winger, who had previously netted against PKR Svay Rieng FC and Shan United FC, added two more to his tally against Terengganu FC as the Thais posted a thrilling 4-3 victory on Matchday Five to finish at the top of Group A.
Trailing to a 66th-minute Akhyar Rashid goal, Raniel ran onto an Ilhan Fandi pass and slotted past Rahadiazli Rahalim for BG Pathum’s equaliser five minutes later before pulling them ahead in another five minutes and sent the Thai League 1 side on their way to a crucial victory.
Nermin Haljeta (PSM Makassar)
Nermin Haljeta made it four goals from four matches in the Shopee Cup with a double against Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC. Daisuke Sakai gave the Indonesians the lead at the end of an evenly contested first half but it was Haljeta who put the result beyond doubt when he turned home a Victor Luiz cross only a little over a minute into the second half.
The Slovenian forward then sent Rizky Eka Pratama on his way before receiving the pass back and finishing into the top corner for PSM’s third to secure the victory and book a two-legged semi-final tie against Công An Hà Nội FC. The Liga 1 side will need Haljeta to be at the top of his game in April as they look to overcome the Vietnamese side, who are yet to drop a point in the tournament.
Bounphachan Bounkong (PKR Svay Rieng FC)
PKR Svay Rieng FC’s semi-final hopes were over before the final matchday despite collecting four points from their first four matches. But they wrapped up their Shopee Cup campaign in style as they defeated Shan United FC 4-2, with Bounphachan Bounkong scoring twice.
The Laos international was at fault as Svay Rieng conceded first, but Bounphachan made amends by scoring in the 20th minute before adding a second before the break. The 24-year-old could have had a hat-trick only to see his effort parried onto the woodwork by Shan goalkeeper Pyae Phyo Thu four minutes into the second half.
Kaishu Yamazaki (Kaya FC-Iloilo) 
Kaya FC-Iloilo were yet to open their account in the Shopee Cup heading into the final matchday, having lost all of four their previous matches. But they produced a solid display against Lion City Sailors FC to get a 2-0 victory against the Singaporeans, with Kaishu Yamazaki one of the standout stars in the game.
The 27-year-old Japanese defensive midfielder put in a solid shift as he provided defensive cover for Kaya’s backline against Sailors’ formidable attacking line-up featuring the likes of Bart Ramselaar and Maxime Lestienne as the Filipinos registered a famous victory against Yamazaki’s former side.
Lucas Crispim (Buriram United)
With the all-important goal in the 1-0 win against Kuala Lumpur City FC on the final matchday of the group stage, Buriram United’s Lucas Crispim emerged as the joint top scorer of the Shopee Cup with five goals, sharing the honour with Terengganu FC’s Safawi Rasid with five goals.
With Buriram needing a win against the Malaysians to guarantee their place in the knockout stage, the 30-year-old Brazilian arrived at the right place at the right time to score from a Theerathon Bunmathan cross in the 36th minute and book a last-four tie against fellow Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United.
Nguyen Dinh Bac (Công An Hà Nội FC)
Công An Hà Nội FC had booked their place in the semi-finals on the penultimate matchday, but their perfect record in the Shopee Cup was at stake as they faced Borneo FC Samarinda on Matchday Five. And it was another opportunity for 20-year-old Nguyen Dinh Bac to show his potential to the world.
The Vietnam international curled an effort over goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata in the 81st minute to make it two goals in two starts for Alexandre Polking’s side in the tournament. With Công An the team to beat in the competition and going into the semi-finals as strong favourites, Dinh Bac will hope to take another step forward in his fledgling career when he faces PSM Makassar in April.
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