The ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ resumes this week with Indonesia’s PSM Makassar, Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nôi FC and Thai sides Buriram United and BG Pathum United left battling for the coveted title.
With the tournament entering its business end and the competition getting stiffer, some of the region’s most exciting stars will look to play a decisive role in their team’s quest for a place in the final as they navigate the high-stakes ties.
As we count down to the last-four action in the Shopee Cup™, join ASEAN United FC as we take a look at one player from each of the four clubs who could help them get through to the Shopee Cup™ title showdown.
Victor Dethan - PSM Makassar
Only 20 years old, Victor Dethan has played an instrumental role in PSM Makassar’s passage to the Shopee Cup™ semi-finals. The winger started all three games that the Liga 1 side won in the group stage as he created problems for the opposition defenders down the right-hand side. Victor also provided a brilliant assist for Nermin Haljeta’s winner in a 1-0 win against PKR Svay Rieng FC, as he played a first-time pass over the defence for the Slovenian to break through.
The PSM attacker also earned his international debut last year when he came on as a substitute in Indonesia’s 1-0 defeat of Myanmar in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 and went on to make four appearances for his nation in the group stage of the competition.
Nguyen Quang Hai - Công An Hà Nôi FC
After guiding Vietnam to a historic ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 title at the start of the year, Nguyen Quang Hai will now be hoping to add the Shopee Cup™ title to his collection with Công An Hà Nôi FC. The 27-year-old superstar will carry the bulk of the responsibility to guide a Công An side, who remain the only team with a perfect record in the tournament, past the semi-finals and towards the ultimate prize.
The Công An captain scored one goal and created two assists in only three starts in the group stage and with the ability to take on opposition defenders and an eye for goal, he could recreate his exploits from the international stage and prove to be the gamechanger for the V.League 1 side.
Suphanat Mueanta - Buriram United
Suphanat Mueanta is yet to make his debut in the Shopee Cup™ but he could turn out to be Buriram United’s most potent weapon in the knockout stages of the competition as they take on fellow Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United in the semi-finals. The 22-year-old is one of the biggest talents to have emerged from Southeast Asia in recent years and he has delivered on that promise for both club and country.
The Thailand international was on the scoresheet against Johor Darul Ta’zim as they edged the Malaysian side 1-0 on aggregate to advance to the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals. Suphanat will be keen to create more history as the Thunder Castle look to add Shopee Cup™ to their trophy cabinet.
Ilhan Fandi - BG Pathum United
Ilhan Fandi has been making a name for himself in Thailand ever since returning from a short spell with Belgium’s Deinze to sign for BG Pathum United last year. Though it took Ilhan, the son of Singapore legend Fandi Ahmad, some time to adapt to his new home but he has been earning regular minutes for the Rabbits recently.
The 22-year-old made his debut in the Shopee Cup™ against PSM Makassar but it was in their final group fixture against Terengganu FC that the Singapore international played his biggest role in the club’s journey in the tournament. After assisting Raniel Santana earlier in the game, it was Ilhan’s goal that proved to be the winner for BG Pathum as they beat the Malaysians 4-3 to finish top of the group.
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