An FOX sports editor picked out 4 best players in the first leg of the semi-final of AFC Cup 2019
The first qualifying round in ASEAN zone of AFC cup 2019 officially kicked off this week ad there will be some good points to say.
The Tuesday match of Ceres Megros seemed to be a win by Bienvenido Maranon goal in the 57th minute yet it turned out a 1-1 draw after Hanoi FC’s Pape Omar’s goal.
In the Wednesday match saw Becamex Binh Duong delivered a brave performance –despite their less-player squad in 40 minutes- to win 1-0 over PSM Makassar.
1) STEPHAN SCHROCK (CERES-NEGROS)
Until now, most teams will realize that Stephan Schrock is one of the players to improve Ceres' match, but whether they have the necessary things to stop him is a completely different matter. .
No matter how he was deployed on the pitch, on the front line, the wings or down deeper in the midfield, the former Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt player still created dangerous situations
Schrock has his own football brand and that gave Ceres a lead in the Tuesday match when he came down from the right wing before making a perfect kick to Maranon’s goal.
2) PAPE OMAR FAYE (HANOI FC)
Hanoi has no shortage of damage on the attack and often, Ganiyu Oseni will score most goals, but Pape Omar Faye has proven his ability to sit deeper in the squad.
His goal to Ceres’s net- a close-range shot from Pham Thanh Luong's assist - was his sixth goal in the AFC Cup, rising his goal number to 12 in this season.
That Ceres is likely to follow Oseni and Nguyen Quang Hai closely next week, Faye will be Hanoi's offensive when they seek to enter the regional final.
3) TO VAN VAN VU (BECAMEX BINH DUONG)
In a Wednesday clash at Go Dau stadium, no matter which direction the game took place, To Van Vu still shone on the right side of Becamex Binh Duong.
This 25-year-old brought energy and wasn’t afraid to support his allies. He seemed to create the goal for Binh Duong, especially in the first half.
Van Vu was replaced in the 74th minute although it also helped the host because his replacement Nguyen Tien Linh scored the winning goal just six minutes later.
4) MARC KLOK (PSM MAKASSAR)
PSM lost, despite the advantage of player number over 40 minutes, there was a player who could leave the field with his head held high: midfielder Marc Klok.
The Dutch striker still played brilliantly as usual when he constantly created challenges and disputed the ball for the Indonesian club.
Klok rescued PSM from some difficult situations in the past, it will not be surprised if he rescues them again next Wednesday match when his team seeks to narrow the deficit on their home field.
Amelia London
