The semi-finals stage of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ concluded on Wednesday as Thailand’s Buriram United and Vietnam’s Công An Hà Nội FC booked their places in the first-ever final to be played on 14 and 21 May.
While Buriram overcame fellow Thai League 1 rivals BG Pathum United 3-1 on aggregate in their last-four contest, Công An overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Indonesia’s PSM Makassar to win their semi-final tie 2-1 on aggregate.
ASEAN United FC takes a look at the two players who were named the Shopee Star of the Match in the second legs of the semi-final ties and asks you, the fans, to pick your favourite among the two by voting in the poll at the bottom of the article.
Christian Gomis (BG Pathum United)
In the second leg, BG Pathum United were looking for an improbable comeback against Buriram United after losing the first leg 3-1 to their fellow Thai side. Though they came short of their objective after a goalless draw in the return fixture at Pathum Thani Stadium on Wednesday, one player – Christian Gomis – stood out in the Rabbits line-up and bagged the Shopee Star of the Match prize at the end of 90 minutes.
Gomis, part of BG Pathum’s three-man defence, put on a fearless display against a talented Buriram attacking line-up and was there to intercept danger time and again with his well-time tackles, aerial ability and distribution from the back.
The 26-year-old Senegalese defender, who was part of the Paris Saint-Germain academy and plied his trade in France, Bulgaria and Hungary before moving to Thailand last year, wrapped up his Shopee Cup™ campaign with six appearances, only missing BG Pathum’s group stage opener during their impressive run to the semi-finals of the tournament.
Bui Hoang Viet Anh (Công An Hà Nội FC)
Công An Hà Nội FC needed performances all across the pitch if they were to come back from a 1-0 first-leg defeat in their semi-final clash against PSM Makassar. And they did step up as a team to the occasion at Hang Day Stadium to secure a 2-0 victory – but none more so than their 26-year-old centre-back Bui Hoang Viet Anh, who was not only solid in their backline but also made an important intervention at the opposite end of the field to send his side through.
After a goalless first half, Hugo Gomes had scored to bring Công An level in the tie only three minutes after the restart. But time was running out for the Vietnamese side to claim the victory when Viet Anh struck the goal that sent Alexandre Polking’s side through to the title showdown.
Jason Pendant collected possession from a corner and clipped the ball back into the area for Viet Anh, who did well to control the ball at the back post before slotting past PSM goalkeeper Reza Arya with his left foot to spark wild celebrations in Hanoi.
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