The second-leg action in the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ semi-finals gets under way this week as Indonesia’s PSM Makassar and Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nôi FC face each other in Hanoi on Wednesday.
PSM have a slender advantage heading into the return leg after beating their Vietnamese opponents 1-0 at home, but now with their supporters behind them, Công An will try to overturn the deficit.
As we get closer to finding out which club will seal their place in the first-ever Shopee Cup™ final, join ASEAN United FC as we take a look at four players who could make a big impact in the last-four ties.
Yuran Fernandes - PSM Makassar
Yuran Fernandes drew the plaudits as the PSM Makassar centre-back scored the only goal of the first leg against Công An Hà Nôi FC at the Gelora B.J. Habibie Stadium earlier this month. With the game goalless after 80 minutes, Yuran arrived unmarked to head home a Victor Luiz corner and give Indonesians a lead to protect in the return leg.
The Liga 1 side will also need their captain’s presence in the backline to ward off threats from a prolific Công An offensive unit. The 30-year-old has been in excellent form for PSM in recent times and earned his first call-up to the Cape Verde national team in March but he is yet to make his international debut. Guiding PSM to the Shopee Cup™ could help bolster his chances of achieving that dream.
Alan Grafite - Công An Hà Nôi FC
Công An Hà Nôi FC have had a talented pool of attacking options, including the likes of Leo Artur, Nguyen Quang Hai and Phan Van Duc, to pick from in recent times. But Brazilian forward Alan Grafite is one player who could emerge as a semi-final hero for the V.League 1 side despite flying under the radar in the Shopee Cup™ so far.
Grafite has only scored once in the tournament but he is no stranger to spectacular displays, as evidenced by his hat-trick against Quang Nam FC in the Vietnamese top flight in February. With Công An needing goals in the second leg to stay alive in the competition, it is as perfect an opportunity as any for the 27-year-old to make his mark.
Nermin Haljeta - PSM Makassar
Nermin Haljeta has been PSM Makassar’s greatest strength in attack at the Shopee Cup™, scoring four goals in five appearances. He netted PSM’s first goal of the tournament in a 4-3 win against Shan United FC on Matchday Two before grabbing the only goal in their defeat of PKR Svay Rieng FC.
The 27-year-old Slovenian striker also bagged a double against Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC in their final group fixture and will now hope to find the back of the net against another Vietnamese opposition in Công An Hà Nôi FC. Haljeta comes into the semi-final second leg boasting excellent form, having been involved in six goals in his last six games in the Indonesian top flight, scoring four of those himself.
Le Van Do - Công An Hà Nôi FC
Only Terengganu FC’s Safawi Rasid, with five goals, has scored more than Le Van Do’s four in the Shopee Cup™. And the 23-year-old Công An Hà Nôi FC winger will be hoping to bolster his chances of winning the top scorer award while also taking his side one step closer to the title with another splendid display when they take on PSM Makassar on Wednesday.
Van Do has had a remarkable campaign in the tournament scoring in his first four appearances - some of them spectacular strikes - while also adding two assists. The Vietnam international, who can play on the wings as well as lead the line, will no doubt be a key weapon in Alexandre Polking’s arsenal as they eye a comeback against the Indonesians.
Chia sẻ ngay
