Football 

Đông Á Thanh Hóa will play host PSM Makassar in the final matchday of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Bali on February 5. — Photo courtesy of Thanh Hóa FC

HÀ NỘI — Đông Á Thanh Hóa managers have offered a big bonus to the team if they can beat PSM Makassar on February 5 at the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup in Indonesia.

In Group A, Thanh Hóa stand fourth with six points. BG Pathum United of Thailand are on top with eight points, followed by Terengganu of Malaysia and PSM Makassar with seven each. PKR Svay Rieng of Cambodia and Myanmar’s Shan United are fifth with four points and six with zero point, respectively. 

The win at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Bali will help Thanh Hóa secure a slot in the next stage of the debut tournament, while players and coaches will pocket a total VNĐ1 billion.

Coach Velizar Emilov Popov will field his strongest squad when playing away from home.

Defender Gustavo Santos will be back after a long rest due to injury he suffered in the middle of last year, while local players Trịnh Văn Lợi and Phạm Mạnh Hùng are also ready for competition.

The team enjoyed a short Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday and returned to training on February 1 and then travelled to Indonesia on February 3.

Makassar also need a win to advance to the semi-finals. Coach Bernardo Tavares is confident that his players, which include four foreigners, is the better squad, in terms of international experience and the value of the players. 

In the transfermakt, the home team is valued at 4.14 million euros compared to 3.31 million euros for Thanh Hóa.

While Thanh Hóa have not lost any match at the regional tournament, they have have had four draws in a row in the local league.

Meanwhile Makassar have not been defeated on home ground in this tournament, but suffered three straight losses in their domestic competitions.

In other fixtures, PKR Svay Rieng and Shan United FC will be playing for pride when they take on each other at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

At the same time, Pathum United will host Terengganu at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Thanyaburi. The winner of this match will earn the top place of the group. — VNS