The Vietnam national team vs Thailand is not only a match to decide the winner between the two strongest teams in Southeast Asia (according to their positions on the FIFA rankings). The two final matches of the AFF Cup 2024 are also a "sprint" of the top strikers aiming for the title of "top scorer" of the tournament.
This is similar to the AFF Cup 2022 when Nguyen Tien Linh and Teerasil Dangda competed until the final match and shared the prize.
In the leading group of scorers in this year's tournament, the Vietnamese and Thai teams each have 2 representatives. Nguyen Xuan Son scored the most goals with 5 goals. Notably, the number 12 striker of the Vietnamese team only played 3 matches. He could have achieved better results in the semi-finals if he had not let Nguyen Tien Linh take 2 penalties.
Nguyen Xuan Son and Nguyen Tien Linh compete for the "top scorer" title with two Thai stars.
In addition, Xuan Son also had 2 assists for his teammates to score. However, at the AFF Cup, statistics on assists and number of matches played are not considered to choose the top scorer in case the top 2 players have the same number of goals.
Following Xuan Son are teammate Nguyen Tien Linh, two Thai players and Shawal Anuar (Singapore) with 4 goals each. However, Anuar certainly cannot improve his record as his team was eliminated by the Vietnamese team in the semi-finals.
The three-goal group also bowed out of the tournament before the final. Bjorn Kristensen was eliminated with the Philippines, while Teerasak Poeiphimai of Thailand suffered a ligament injury. He still travelled to Vietnam but was confined to a wheelchair.
Thus, only Tien Linh and 2 Thai players Suphanat Mueanta, Patrik Gustavsson are competitors for the title of "top scorer" with Xuan Son. Tien Linh has the least chance because coach Kim Sang-sik does not use this striker as a starter when Xuan Son is in the squad. Tien Linh was only put on the field in the second half in the last 3 matches.
Suphanat Mueanta played very well in the AFF Cup 2024. However, he just got sick, had a fever of nearly 40 degrees Celsius and had to be hospitalized right after the semi-final match with the Philippines. Suphanat returned to normal training yesterday afternoon (January 1) but is not sure if he will be in the best physical condition for the first leg of the final. Meanwhile, Patrik Gustavsson also suffered a minor injury and has just recovered.
The first leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final will take place at 8:00 p.m. today, January 2 at Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho ).
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/xuan-son-tien-linh-so-dang-cap-voi-2-ngoi-sao-thai-lan-ar917764.html
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