The semi-final first leg matches of the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ is scheduled to be held on 2 April with Indonesia’s PSM Makassar, Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nôi FC and Thai League 1 rivals Buriram United and BG Pathum United the four sides still standing in the competition.
The group stage of the tournament saw 98 goals scored in 30 matches as a total of 12 top clubs across Southeast Asia battled for four places in the semi-finals, and some of the region’s best attackers came to the fore for their respective clubs.
With the last-four action in the Shopee Cup™, join ASEAN United FC as we take a look at six players who are in the running for the top scorer award in the competition.
Lucas Crispim - Buriram United
Buriram United started their Shopee Cup™ campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Công An Hà Nôi FC but the floodgates opened in their second outing as Lucas Crispim struck in the eighth minute to open the scoring against Kaya FC-Iloilo. The Brazilian completed his hat-trick with two well-placed headers in the second half as Buriram ran out 7-0 winners. Cripsim was also on target in 4-0 defeat of Borneo FC Samarinda and 1-0 win against Kuala Lumpur City FC as the Thai champions squeezed through to the last four as Group B runners-up with a record of three wins, one draw and one defeat.
Safawi Rasid - Terengganu FC
Though his side are no longer in the running for the Shopee Cup™ title, Safawi Rasid of Terengganu is still a contender for the individual prize with five goals in the group stage – tied with Crispim at the top of the scoring chart. Four of the Malaysian winger’s five goals came from the penalty spot as he kept the Turtles in the battle for a place in the knockout stage until the final matchday. Needing a win against BG Pathum United in their final outing, the 28-year-old scored twice in the stoppage time to pull his side back into contention, but it was not enough to keep them alive.
Leo Artur - Công An Hà Nôi FC
Just like his compatriot Crispim, Leo Artur also announced himself to the Shopee Cup™ fans with a hat-trick for Công An Hà Nôi FC in their commanding 5-0 win over Lion City Sailors FC on the second matchday. After an easy tap-in to open his account, the former Corinthians attacker left his manager Alexandre Polking in awe as he planted a stunning strike from distance in the back of the net before completing his treble. With the Vietnamese side’s perfect record at stake, the Brazilian also converted a 91st-minute penalty for his fourth goal which secured a 3-2 victory against Borneo in their final group fixture as Công An finished top of Group B.
Raniel Santana - BG Pathum United
Raniel Santana was one of the driving forces for BG Pathum United with his four goals as the club from Thailand won Group A with three wins and two draws. The 28-year-old Brazilian, who has plied his trade with clubs like Sao Paulo and Santos back home, opened his account in a 2-1 win against Cambodia’s PKR Svay Rieng FC before also finding the back of the net in their 4-1 defeat of Myanmar’s Shan United FC. But his most important contribution in the group stage came in the form of a double against Terengganu FC on the final matchday as the Thais came back from behind to win 4-3 in Pathum Thani.
Nermin Haljeta - PSM Makassar
After a goalless draw against BG Pathum United in their first outing, Nermin Haljeta scored PSM Makassar’s first goal of the Shopee Cup™ campaign in a 4-3 victory against Shan United FC in Balikpapan on Matchday Two. The Slovenian striker was once again instrumental for the Indonesians the following matchday as his goal only 38 seconds into the game proved to be the difference in a 1-0 win against PKR Svay Rieng FC. Haljeta, 27, then wrapped up their group stage involvement in style as his brace against Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC ensured the Liga 1 club progressed to the semi-finals as runners-up in Group A.
Le Van Do - Công An Hà Nôi FC
Le Van Do produced some of the best goals of the tournament so far as Công An Hà Nôi FC established themselves as one of the favourites for the Shopee Cup™ title with an impressive display in the group stage. The 23-year-old’s first goal came in the 5-0 win against Lion City Sailors FC. Van Do’s left foot once again delivered magic in a hard-fought 2-1 win at Kaya FC-Iloilo before he bundled home a 91st-minute winner against Kuala Lumpur City FC in their penultimate outing. The Vietnam international’s fourth goal of the tournament came against Borneo FC Samarinda as he curled one into the top corner, proving again his immense ability.
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