VOTE: Player of the Round (Semi-final, 2nd leg)
There were a number of standout performers in the semi-final second legs of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 as defending champions Thailand and 2018 winners Vietnam progressed to set up a mouthwatering title clash.
We have picked four stars who have stood out from the rest of the pack during the semi-final second legs which included:
Now we ask you, the fans, to vote for the one player who deserves to be the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 semi-final, second leg Player of the Round.
Do not forget to cast your vote below!
Nguyen Quang Hai (Vietnam)
Nguyen Quang Hai was full of life as he lit up the semi-final second leg to guide Vietnam past Indonesia and into the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 final. He made two key passes in an attacking display which only lacked a goal. However the attacker did come close to getting his name on the scoresheet on a few occasions, including when he almost scored a wonder strike by volleying a Do Hung Dung corner inches wide of the Indonesian goal.
The 25-year-old diminutive playmaker was also solid in other areas as he won 10 of the 15 duels he went in for and also made an interception and a clearance apiece. Vietnam will hope Quang Hai will rise to the occasion in the finals too as the Golden Star Warriors look to win their second title in three AFF Championship editions.
Ekanit Panya (Thailand)
Ekanit Panya did not score one on his own in the second leg, but he was behind two of Thailand's three goals against Malaysia in Bangkok on Tuesday. It was from his cutback that Bordin Phala made it 2-0 in the second half and gave the War Elephants a 2-1 lead in the tie. He was once again critical in Thailand's third as he played through Suphanan Bureerat who crossed it for Adisak Kraisorn to make it 3-0 in the 71st minute.
The 23-year-old continued to light up the second leg and almost set up Peeradol Chamrasamee for a fourth late on, only for the Buriram United man to shoot inches wide. Ekanit, meanwhile, ended the second leg with two key passes, two interceptions and with a pass success rate of 92 percent, completing 35 passes.
Nguyen Tien Linh (Vietnam)
Cometh the hour, cometh the man! After the first leg in Jakarta ended goalless, Park Hang-seo's Vietnam needed someone to step up and take them past the Indonesia challenge in the semi-final return fixture in Hanoi. And that man was Nguyen Tien Linh, who put the Golden Star Warriors on the front foot just three minutes into the second leg with a well-timed run to get behind the Indonesia defence and score past Nadeo Argawinata.
The Becamex Binh Duong striker then displayed his aerial prowess by climbing high to head home a Do Hung Dung corner kick early in the second leg to deny the Garuda any chance of a comeback. The 25-year-old will hope to make similar impact as Vietnam look to overcome Thailand to win their third ASEAN title.
Theerathon Bunmathan (Thailand)
Leading the way for Thailand in the semi-final second leg was their captain Theerathon Bunmathan, who provided the cross from which Teerasil Dangda scored his sixth goal of the tournament to negate Malaysia's 1-0 first-leg victory. Theerathon, playing higher up the field from his usual full-back role, has formed a deadly partnership with veteran striker Teerasil that has guided Thailand deep into the tournament with the former Yokohama F. Marinos man now accounting for four assists.
Theerathon made a key pass and two interceptions while also winning five duels during the 90 minutes at Thammasat Stadium in Bangkok. It will be a personal highlight in the 32-year-old's career if he can guide Thailand to a seventh AFF Championship title.
